Iranian security forces have accelerated efforts to suppress anti-government protests in the country’s Kurdish region, as nationwide protests persist.
According to Human Rights Activists in Iran (HRA), at least 58 children have been killed in Iran since anti-regime protests broke out two months ago. 46 boys and 12 girls under the age of 18 – some as young as 6 – have been killed by security forces as violence has ensued across the country. This figure is being disputed by Iranian authorities.
Young people are notably at the forefront of these anti-regime protests, which commenced in response to Mahsa Amini’s death in the custody of Iran’s morality police. Not to mention, women, ethnic Kurd and Baluch populations are prominent sects of protests. The deaths of two teenage girls, Nika Shakamari and Sarina Esmailzadeh, who were both allegedly beaten to death by security forces, provoked further outrage from protesters. Again, Iranian authorities contend that Ms Amini’s death was due to pre-existing medical conditions. In addition, Iran’s clerical rulers, including Supreme Leader Ali Hosseini Khamenei, blame foreign adversaries – namely the US and Israel – and armed separatists for perpetuating violence.
UN spokesman Stephane Dujarric urged Iranian authorities to seek to the “legitimate grievances of the population” and condemned “incidents that have resulted in death or serious injury to protesters.” Yet, protests persist with no end in insight: no concession from protesters nor inclination on the government’s part to pursue a pathway towards peace.
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