Violent protests again in dozens of cities in Iran “A construction site”: The hard battle for the final statement of the UN climate conference

Thousands of people again took to the streets in Iran against the authoritarian policies of the Islamic Republic. Thursday evening there were reports of protests in dozens of cities, some of which were violently suppressed. In many places the internet was limited.

There would also have been several deaths. Eyewitnesses in Tehran described the street protests in the capital as increasingly fearless. According to residents, ‘civil war-like’ scenes played out in the provinces.

Activists this week had called for nationwide protests and strikes from Tuesday through Thursday. The reason was the commemoration of the “bloody November” of 2019, when the security apparatus violently suppressed protests. Several hundred people were said to have died.

The latest wave of protests against the Islamic Republic’s authoritarian policies was triggered by the death of Iranian Kurd Mahsa Amini. She died in police custody on September 16 after being arrested for violating Islamic dress codes.

The death of a young boy in the southwestern city of Iseh this week also sparked anger and horror. At least nine other people were also killed in the incident. The state spoke of an “act of terrorism” by unknown assailants. Residents and families of the victims in the city strongly denied this account. They blamed the Basij militias and the Revolutionary Guards. New protests were expected on Friday for the boy’s funeral. The well-known Canadian activist Hamed Esmaelion also called for international demonstrations on Saturday.

Meanwhile, well-known Iranian actress Mahtab Keramati announced on Instagram that she is stepping down as UNICEF ambassador. The 52-year-old has come under fire in recent weeks for saying little about the protests in Iran.

(yam/sda/dpa)