Iran: at least 76 people killed in the repression of demonstrations according to an NGO
A police motorbike burns in the streets of Tehran during a protest following the death of Mahsa Amini, September 19, 2022. AP
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At least 76 people have been killed in Iran in the crackdown on protests sparked ten days ago by the death of a young woman in the custody of vice police, an NGO said on Monday.
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According to the NGO Iran Human Rights (IHR), based in Oslo, "
at least 76 people were killed in the demonstrations
" including "
six women and four children
", in 14 provinces of the country.
The IHR claimed to have obtained "
videos and death certificates confirming live ammunition fired at protesters
".
The protests erupted on September 16 after the death in hospital of Mahsa Amini, a 22-year-old Iranian girl, arrested three days earlier in Tehran for breaking the strict dress code for women in the Islamic Republic of Iran.
Since then, Iranians have taken to the streets every night in Tehran and elsewhere in the country.
The Iranian authorities have so far given a death toll of 41 including protesters and police.
They also announced the arrest of more than 1,200 demonstrators.
► To read also: Iran: behind the death of Mahsa Amini, the uprising of a people
Live ammunition
This Monday evening, the protests resumed with the same slogans of "
Death to the dictator
" in the capital and in other cities, according to witnesses.
In Tabriz in the northwest, video released by the IHR showed police firing tear gas at protesters.
The sound of bullets is also heard there.
According to recent videos released by AFP, riot police beat demonstrators with batons during protests and students tore up large photos of Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei and his predecessor, Imam Khomeini. .
And according to human rights groups, she also fired pellets and live ammunition at protesters who threw rocks, torched police cars and set fire to public buildings.
Other images showed women removing and burning their veils or symbolically cutting their hair, cheered on by crowds, in several cities.
In addition to the more than 1,200 arrests by authorities, the Committee to Protect Journalists reported on Monday the arrest of 20 Iranian journalists since September 16.
The EU denounces the "
widespread and disproportionate use of force
"
Faced with repression, the European Union denounced the “
generalized and disproportionate use of force
”.
Condemning the "
brutal repression
" of the protest by Tehran, France indicated on Monday evening that it was examining with its European partners "
the options available in response to these new massive violations of women's rights and human rights in Iran.
".
US President Joe Biden also denounced the repression of the demonstrations, saying he was in solidarity with "
brave women of Iran
".
Canada has decided to impose sanctions against a dozen Iranian officials and entities including the morality police.
And Berlin called on Iran "
not to use violence
" against protesters.
But the Iranian authorities remain firm.
On Saturday,
conservative President Ebrahim Raïsi
called on the police to act against the demonstrators, described
as "rioters
".
After him, the head of the judiciary, Gholamhossein Mohseni Ejei, ruled out any "
indulgence
" towards the instigators of the "
riots
".
(
With
AFP)
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