The Guardian Weekly

A defiant stand

A main road in Tehran is blocked by protesters last week as Iranians took to the streets, in defiance of warnings from the judiciary, to protest against the death of Mahsa Amini. Officially at least 41 people have died since the unrest began, mostly protesters but including members of the security forces. Human rights groups said the real figure may be higher.

Norway-based group Iran Human Rights (IHR) said last Sunday evening that the death toll was at least 57, but noted that internet blackouts were making it difficult to confirm fatalities as protests led by women spread to scores of cities. At least 450 people have been arrested in the northern province of Mazandaran during the protests, according to its chief prosecutor.

It is thought that hundreds more demonstrators, reformist activists and journalists have been arrested amid the mostly nighttime demonstrations since unrest first broke out after 22-year-old Amini’s death in police custody on 16 September. Amini was detained by the morality police for not wearing a hijab properly.

Echoing a warning by Iran’s president, Ebrahim Raisi, the judiciary chief, Gholamhossein Mohseni Eje’i, “emphasised the need for decisive action without leniency” against the core instigators of the “riots”. Opinion

Eyewitness | Iran

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2022-09-30T07:00:00.0000000Z

2022-09-30T07:00:00.0000000Z

https://theguardianweekly.pressreader.com/article/281964611593370

Guardian/Observer