At least eight dead during protests in Iran: Regime blocks internet access

Protests in Iran over the death of Mahza Amin continued into a fifth day this Wednesday, with eight people already dead with no signs of losing steam.Officials point to “foreign enemy”.

The protests began with fear on Friday After Amini’s death, Moral was arrested by the police for wearing the wrong veil And they are still widespread and violent in many parts of the country.

More and more gestures of protest are going on, with demonstrators burning veils and effigies. Founder of the Islamic Republic, Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini.

After several days of clashesOfficials today put the death toll at eight and the number of injured at dozens.

“Unfortunately, two people were killed in the clashes last night,” said the prosecutor of Kermanshah province (northwest). Shahram KaramiAccording to the company distanceNear Revolutionary Guards.

About 25 people, including police and bystanders, were injured in those clashes, which protesters accused of “agents of the counter-revolution” in the protests in the provincial capital, Kermanshah.

For his part, the governor of the city of Shiraz, Lotfola ShibaniFars reports that “one police assistant” died and four officers were injured in protests in the southern city last night.

The deaths join three deaths confirmed yesterday by authorities in Iran’s Kurdistan province, Amini being the first.

Kurdistan human rights groups such as Oslo-based Hengau put the death toll at 7 and 450 injured in clashes with security forces.

Iranians cut off internet access Wednesday amid massive anti-government protests, including the loss of access to Instagram and WhatsApp, two of the last Western social media platforms available in the country.

A government official had earlier said that such measures could be taken for security reasons. Disconnection will make it difficult for people to organize protests and share information about authorities’ repression.

Amini was arrested by the so-called Morale Police in Tehran on Tuesday last week, where she visited, and was taken to a police station to attend a “one-hour re-education” for improperly wearing the veil.

He died three days later at the hospital, where he suffered a heart attack and slipped into a coma, which officials said was due to health problems the family had ruled out.

The initial fear-mongering protests have grown in size and spread across the country, while police crackdowns have escalated using batons, tear gas and water cannons.

But neither was police repression; Or no promises President, Ibrahim Raisi, that Amini’s death will be investigated; Even Iran’s supreme leader, Ali Khamenei, sending emissaries to the families of the deceased did not seem to be enough to end the protests.

The Persian nation experienced another wave of protests on Wednesday afternoon, with demonstrations at Tehran’s universities, but also in several provincial cities.

State news agency IRNA At least 20 cities reported clashes with protesters burning cars and throwing stones at police.

And so, another day of protestors clamoring “Justice, freedom and no compulsory hijab“”Women, Life, Freedom“y”Death to the Dictator”.

As it happens, officials insist that the protests are being fueled by “foreign enemies” with the intervention of other countries’ embassies and intelligence services.

“It’s a known fact that provokes opposition from Western intelligence services, and it doesn’t need proof,” summed up Khamenei’s handpicked ultraconservative “Kayhan.”

At the same time, Iran’s foreign ministry rejected international criticism of the young woman’s death and accused other countries of using human rights to attack the Persian nation.

Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesman Nasser Khanani said it is unfortunate that some countries are trying to use an incident that is still under investigation as an opportunity to pursue political goals against the Iranian government and people who exercise human rights.

For his part, the Supreme Leader today delivered a 57-minute televised address on the anniversary of the 1980s war with Iraq, making no mention of Amini or the protests.

On the other hand, hundreds of Iranians demonstrated against Raisi’s participation in the United Nations General Assembly this Wednesday.

The protest took place about 500 meters from the UN headquarters in New York. Most of the participants were invited by the French-based Council of National Resistance of Iran (CNRI). Country.

(With information from EFE, AP and Reuters)

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