“At least 31 civilians have been killed” in the protests in Iran since they began six days ago, according to a report by the NGO Iran Human Rights published on Thursday. The NGO “urges the international community to react” and “prevent the massacre of the Iranian people.”
Earlier in the day, a report published on Thursday by state television said that seventeen people died six days.
The death of 22-year-old Mahsa Amini has drawn strong condemnation around the world, as international NGOs have denounced a “brutal” crackdown on the protests. At the UN podium on Wednesday, US President Joe Biden said he stood in solidarity with the “brave women of Iran”.
Authorities block access to Instagram and WhatsApp
The young woman, originally from Kurdistan (northwest), was arrested on September 13 in Tehran for “wearing inappropriate clothing” by the vice police, a unit in charge of enforcing the strict dress code in the Islamic Republic of Iran, where women must cover their hair and are not allowed to wear short coats above the knee, tight pants or ripped jeans. She died on September 16 at the hospital.
Activists said he was fatally shot in the head, but Iranian officials denied this and announced an investigation.
The demonstrations broke out immediately after the announcement of his death. Since then, they have hit fifteen cities, including the holy Shiite city of Qom, southwest of Tehran, the birthplace of Iranian Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei. Iranian authorities blocked access to Instagram and WhatsApp on Thursday.
Source: BFM TV
