Somewhat overshadowed by current events across the Atlantic, the protest is still brewing in Iran. For the twelfth consecutive day, large-scale demonstrations took place in Tehran and several major cities across the country against a backdrop of increased repression and a national internet shutdown. According to the NGO Iran Human Rights (IHR), based in Norway, at least 45 demonstrators, including eight minors, have been killed since the start of the movement, triggered at the end of December by the rise in the cost of living.
“The repression is spreading and becoming more violent every day”affirmed its director, Mahmood Amiry-Moghaddam, also mentioning “hundreds” injured and more than 2,000 arrests. Wednesday was the deadliest day, with 13 deaths. The Iranian authorities, for their part, acknowledge at least 21 deaths, including members of the police, according to an AFP count.
At least 50 cities affected
A sign of the nervousness of those in power, the NGO Netblocks reported a nationwide internet shutdown. “This incident follows a series of increasingly strict digital censorship measures targeting protests across the country”she wrote on X, denouncing an obstruction of the right to communicate “at a critical moment”.
Videos authenticated by AFP show a dense crowd in a major avenue in Tehran, while gatherings were also observed in Tabriz and Mashhad. Since December 28, protests have affected at least 50 cities in 25 provinces.
Calls for restraint, American threats
Faced with rising tensions, Iranian President Massoud Pezeshkian called on Thursday to “the greatest restraint”. “All violent or coercive behavior must be avoided”he declared, pleading for the “dialogue” And “listening to the demands of the people”.
From Washington, Donald Trump once again threatened Iran if the authorities “started to kill” demonstrators. In Europe, Germany denounced a “excessive use of force”while Amnesty International accuses the security forces of having “wounded and killed” demonstrators and witnesses. These mobilizations are the most important since those of 2022, triggered by the death of Mahsa Amini, arrested for a veil deemed ill-fitting.
