Iranian police and paramilitary law enforcement have killed 185 people since protests broke out against the death in custody of 22-year-old Mahsa Amini last month, according to a human rights group.
Iran Human Rights says at least 19 of the people killed are children. The riots spread across the country for weeks after the death of Amini, who suffered severe injuries while in the custody of the Iranian moral police. Protesters set fire to the police station and even killed pro-government law enforcement as they called for an end to the Islamist regime.
IHR says the police killings took place in 17 provinces of Iran, but the violence was heavier in Sistan and Baluchistan, in the south-east of the country.
The Iranian regime denies responsibility for Amini’s death, claiming she collapsed of her own free will while in police custody.
Protesters CLASH WITH REVOLUTIONARY GUARD IN NORTHERN IRAN, IRGC TORCH BASE: REPORTS
Iran protest on video via The Foreign Desk
(Courtesy of The Foreign Desk)
A man makes a gesture during a protest over the death of Mahsa Amini, a woman who died after being arrested by the Islamic Republic’s “moral police” in Tehran, Iran on September 19, 2022. (West Asia News Agencyv ia REUTERS)
The moral police first arrested the woman for wearing the hijab incorrectly. The incident led to tens of thousands of Iranian women shedding their hijabs, with some even burning them on the street.
The Iranian government has responded with deadly military crackdowns and widespread internet blocking, making it difficult to verify casualty estimates.
Numerous unconfirmed videos have circulated on social media that appear to show students defying the regime. Other videos appear to show pro-government forces firing on protesters. While Iranians have already protested against the regime in recent years, observers say the current unrest is different.
“The Iranian people have continued their protests for over two weeks. This time it is different. We have never seen such courage from the Iranian protesters who are burning down Basiji headquarters, police cars, attacking and even killing them. regime forces “. Iranian analyst Lisa Daftari told Fox News Digital last week.
A woman cuts her hair during a protest over the death of 22-year-old Kurdish Mahsa Amini in Iran’s Kurdish-controlled city of Qamishli in northeastern Syria on September 26, 2022.
(Reuters / Orhan Qereman)
“What the Iranian people are saying to the world, though, is that while they are willing to continue and fight their own battle, they don’t believe they can do it without the support of the West. The support they need is not just from the podium. although this is a good start. The Iranian people need the West, led by the United States, to move from appeasing the regime to supporting the people, “he continued.
Crowds across the country sang “Death to Khamenei!” and “Death to the dictator!” referring to the supreme leader of Iran.
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Supreme leader Ali Khamenei has condemned the protests as “riots” and accused the US and Israel of inciting the riots.
Ashley Papa of Fox News contributed to this report.
