Protests sweep Iran as casualties mount: 35 killed, children among the dead
Photo: Protests began in Tehran and spread to other major cities (Getty Images)
The death toll from protests in Iran that have been going on for over a week has risen to 35, including four children. More than 1,200 people have also been detained, reports AP.
“Already, violence surrounding the protests has killed at least 35 people,” the report said.
Among the dead are 29 protesters, four children, and two representatives of the Iranian security forces.
According to the US-based Human Rights Activists News Agency, more than 1,200 people have been detained during protests that have been going on for more than a week.
The media explains that the human rights organization relies on a network of activists inside Iran and has repeatedly provided reliable data in the past during other unrest in the country.
The semi-official Fars news agency, which is considered close to Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard, reported late Monday evening that about 250 police officers and 45 members of the Basij volunteer militia had been injured during the demonstrations.
However, the Iranian government has not provided any overall statistics or information about the unrest.
Protests in Iran
The protests in Iran, which began on December 28, have escalated into violent and bloody clashes between demonstrators and security forces.
They were caused, in particular, by dissatisfaction with rapid inflation and a record fall in the national currency. In the city of Lordegan, protesters were fired upon.
According to media reports, unrest is spreading rapidly across Iran. Students from Tehran universities have joined the protests, and on December 31, demonstrators attempted to storm a government building.
Iran's Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei called on security forces to take decisive action against the protesters, calling them “rioters.”
US President Donald Trump responded to the crackdown on protests by promising support to citizens if weapons are used against them.
The Times reported that Khamenei had prepared a plan to flee to Moscow in case the security forces failed to suppress the protests or began to desert.
