8 dead as security forces fire on anti-hijab protestors in Mahsa Amini’s hometown
The death toll is reported to have reached an astounding 141 since the protests began.
In yet another crackdown on anti-hijab protestors, the Iranian forces opened fire on the participating mourners and protestors, killing as many as at least 8 innocent people as reported by human rights organization Amnesty International.
The regrettable incident occurred when thousands of activists and protesters were marching towards the gravesite of Mahsa Amini in her hometown of Saqez ignoring massive road closures and boundations to mark 40 days since her death on Wednesday. A huge crowd measuring thousands was seen making their way on motorcycles, cars, and even on foot along the highway, through fields to an extent of passing through the river.
While the NGO Amnesty addressed the gruesome event as reckless and unlawful use of firearms, another Norwegian group that monitors rights violations in Iran’s Kurdish regions by the name of Hengaw said that security forces shot tear gas and opened fire on people in Zindan square of Saqez city.
The death toll is reported to have reached an astounding 141 since the protests began. Taking advantage of the situation the United States aimed at Moscow and commented that it was concerned that Russia may be advising Iran on best practices to manage protests, drawing on extensive experience in suppressing opponents. The US has added over a dozen Iranian official personnel to its sanctions blacklist after the crackdown.
Amini was a 22-year-old Iranian of Kurdish origin who died on September 16 after her controversial arrest in Tehran by the morality police for allegedly breaching the Islamic dress code for women. Since then, widespread protests have sparked in Iran and various parts of the world. In Iran alone, women of all ages have been burning their veils and headscarves in addition to some cutting their hair in public in a bid to confront the moral and security forces.
