Iran Human Rights (IHRNGO); October 28, 2022: At least 253 people, including 34 children and 19 women, have been killed in the ongoing nationwide protests.
Repeating its call for urgent international action, Iran Human Rights reiterates that the longer the necessary United Nations-led steps take, the more lives are endangered.
Iran Human Rights Director, Mahmood Amiry-Moghaddam said: “There are no excuses for the delay in taking practical steps by the UN and the international community when the Islamic Republic is shooting at defenceless people. There’s a serious risk of mass killings of protesters which the UN is obligated to prevent.”
“Diplomatic pressure should be increased on the Islamic Republic at the same time as an international investigation mechanism being established under UN supervision to identify and hold the perpetrators accountable,” he added.
According to information obtained by Iran Human Rights, at least 253 people have been killed by security forces in the nationwide protests so far. Of those, 34 were under 18 years of age but have not all been verified through document evidence. Iran Human Rights is working to obtain confirmation of their ages.
Province breakdown
Deaths have been recorded in 21 provinces: Sistan and Baluchistan: 93 people; Mazandaran: 30 people; Tehran: 25 people; Kurdistan: 23 people; Gilan: 19 people; Western Azerbaijan: 18 people; Kermanshah: 13 people; Alborz: 7 people; Khorasan-Razavi: 4 people; Isfahan: 3 people; Markazi: 2 people; Qazvin: 2 people; Kohgiluyeh and Boyer Ahmad: 2 people; Zanjan: 2 people; Eastern Azerbaijan: 2 people; Ardabil: 2 people; Ilam: 2 people; Bushehr: 1 person; Semnan: 1 person;Khuzestan: 1 person; Hamedan: 1 person.
Protesters have been killed in 21 provinces, with the most reported in Sistan and Baluchistan, Mazandaran, Tehran, Kurdistan and Gilan. The most number of deaths were recorded on 21, 22 and 30 September.
Intensified repression in Kurdistan and Sistan and Baluchistan provinces
In the past two days alone, at least 16 people, including 4 women, were killed by security forces in different cities, particularly Kurdish regions. At the time of writing on Friday, security forces have opened fire on protesters in Zahedan. Protests are also taking place in other cities in the province including Saravan and Iranshahr.
Iran Human Rights warns of the risk of another “Bloody Friday” being repeated in Sistan and Baluchistan province. It is investigating reports of security forces firing at protesters in Zahedan today. Those killed today have not been included in the current death count.
Furthermore, bloody crackdowns in Kurdish cities commemorating the 40th day since Mahsa (Jina) Amini’s killing, are ongoing.
Numbers are a “minimum”
The numbers of deaths published are an absolute minimum. Reports of protester killings in the last few days are still being investigated. Iran Human Rights has received a high volume of reports of deaths which it continues to investigate with internet disruptions. The actual number of people killed therefore, is certainly higher.
The urgent situation of detainees
According to the reports received by Iran Human Rights, there were a high number of injuries in the last days with some reported to be in critical condition. Many avoid going to medical centres due to the fear of arrest.
Reports also confirm that detainees have been subjected to physical and mental torture and ill-treatment. Many were under duress to force false televised confessions, with some already aired. Protesters are also being held in unofficial buildings without any monitoring and supervision. Prisons and detention centres are filled over capacity, without access to sanitary facilities. Children under 18 are amongst those detained.
Iran Human Rights had previously warned about the situation of the detainees.