At least 16 killed in week of Iran protests – Rights groups
QAMISHLI, Syria (North Press) – At least 16 people were killed during a week of protests in Iran, rights groups told Reuters on Sunday as demonstrations over soaring inflation spread nationwide, sparking violent clashes with security forces.
Human rights networks including HRANA and the Kurdish Hengaw Organization for Human Rights reported at least 16 deaths and around 582 arrests, with clashes most intense in western Iran but also occurring in Tehran and southern Baluchistan province.
Iranian authorities have detained online protest organizers and targeted what they call “leaders” of unrest.
The unrest, the largest in three years, erupted among bazaar traders and shopkeepers before spreading to students and cities across the country.
Iran’s President Masoud Pezeshkian urged a “kind and responsible” approach to handling demonstrations, acknowledging public hardship, while Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei vowed not to yield to what he termed “enemies” seeking to exploit the unrest.
The protests have been fueled by a deepening economic crisis marked by inflation above 36 percent and a sharp decline in the rial’s value, exacerbated by renewed international sanctions and shortages of basic services.
Demonstrators have voiced broad discontent with economic conditions and governance, prompting both calls for dialogue and heavy security crackdowns.