DUBAI, Oct 2 (Reuters) – Iranian lawmakers chanted “thank you, police” throughout a parliament session on Sunday, in a present of assist for a fierce crackdown on widespread anti-government protests in opposition to the death of a younger lady in police custody.
The protests, sparked by the death of 22-year-old Mahsa Amini from Iranian Kurdistan, have spiralled into the largest present of opposition to Iran’s authorities in years, with many calling for the tip of greater than 4 many years of Islamic clerical rule.
Pledging allegiance to the Islamic Republic’s prime authority Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, the lawmakers chanted: “The blood in our veins is a gift to our leader”, a video shared on Iranian state media confirmed.
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At least 52 folks have died within the crackdown, in keeping with a tally by rights group Amnesty International. Iranian authorities say many members of the safety forces have been killed by “rioters and thugs backed by foreign foes”.
Khamenei has not commented on the protests, which started at Amini’s funeral on Sept. 17 and rapidly unfold to Iran’s 31 provinces, with all layers of society, together with ethnic and non secular minorities, collaborating.
Several distinguished soccer gamers who’re stars in Iran and round Asia, together with the previous captain of Iran’s nationwide staff, Ali Daei, have criticised the repression of protesters. Some social media posts advised that Daei has been banned from leaving Iran. Reuters couldn’t affirm the report.
The protests haven’t abated despite the growing death toll and the crackdown by safety forces utilizing tear gasoline, golf equipment, and in some instances, in keeping with movies on social media and rights teams, dwell ammunition.
Videos on social media confirmed demonstrations in a number of cities reminiscent of Kermanshah, Shiraz and Mashhad on Sunday, with members chanting “independence, freedom, death to Khamenei”.
Activist Twitter account 1500tasvir, which has greater than 160,000 followers, posted a video of protesters within the central metropolis of Isfahan calling for a nationwide strike and organising a highway block to deliver truck drivers to their ranks. Reuters couldn’t confirm the movies.
Iranian state media shared a video of pro-government college students, who gathered on the Ferdowsi college in Mashhad, chanting “the Islamic Republic is our red line”.
DEATH IN COMA
Amini was arrested on Sept. 13 in Tehran for “unsuitable attire” by the morality police who implement the Islamic Republic’s strict costume code. She died three days later in hospital after falling right into a coma.
The lawyer for Amini’s household, Saleh Nikbakht, instructed the semi-official Etemadonline information web site that “respectable doctors” imagine she was hit in custody. Amini’s post-mortem report and different medical particulars haven’t been launched, however her father stated he noticed bruises on her leg and that different ladies detained together with her stated she was crushed.
Iran’s police authorities say Amini died of a coronary heart assault and deny she was crushed to death in custody.
The nation’s hardline President Ebrahim Raisi has ordered an investigation into Amini’s death. He stated final week {that a} forensic report can be offered in “coming days”.
Amnesty International on Friday reported 52 folks killed within the protests, with a whole bunch injured and hundreds arrested. Iranian state media stated final week, 41 folks, together with safety forces, had been killed.
Amini’s death and the crackdown have drawn worldwide criticism of Iran’s rulers, who in flip accuse the United States and a few European nations of exploiting the unrest to attempt to destabilise the Islamic Republic.
Iran stated final week it had arrested 9 folks from Germany, Poland, Italy, France, the Netherlands, Sweden and different nations for his or her position within the protests.
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Writing by Parisa Hafezi; Editing by Kirsten Donovan and Frank Jack Daniel
Our Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.
