Eyewitnesses: Mass violence during protests in northwestern Iran Fallen start-up prodigy: 11 years in prison for founder Theranos

According to eyewitnesses, protests in the Kurdish city of Mahabad in northwestern Iran have led to mass violence. Accordingly, police and security forces allegedly entered the city with tanks on Saturday evening and fired indiscriminately at demonstrators. Electricity also went out in the city for a short time. The situation had escalated – numerous residents were injured, eyewitnesses reported. It was unclear if there were any deaths. The accounts could not be independently verified.

The pro-government news agency Tasnim presented the situation differently: on Sunday night, “armed terrorists” set fire to private houses and public facilities, causing panic throughout the city and its inhabitants. However, several leaders of the “terrorist groups” could have been convicted and imprisoned, according to the Tasnim report, citing local security authorities.

Videos shared thousands of times on social media showed military convoys moving through the streets. The Oslo-based human rights organization Hengaw reported that helicopters circled over the Kurdish city. The place and time of the recordings could not initially be independently verified.

According to media reports, there were renewed protests in other parts of the country on Saturday night against the Islamic leadership’s repressive course.

According to media reports, the Iranian judiciary has launched investigations against several celebrities from politics, cinema and sports. Two former members of parliament, five actresses and a football coach were therefore summoned for questioning. They are accused of making “provocative and insulting” statements to officials on social media.

If the investigations lead to charges against the eight, they risk a long-term ban from work. The mere support of the systemic protests, especially from social media celebrities, is viewed by the judiciary as a threat to national security. Iran’s leaders view the protests as a Western conspiracy to bring about regime change in the country. (sda/dpa)