Iran Protests: Death Toll Rises to at Least 201/Children Victims of the Crackdown

According to information obtained by Iran Human Rights, the number of protesters killed by security forces has risen to at least 201 people. Of those, 23 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.

Iran Human Rights has been able to confirm five deaths in Kurdistan over the past days. The city of Sanandaj in Kurdistan province has witnessed widespread protests and bloody crackdowns in the past three days. The current number of confirmed deaths does not include those that have been killed in Sanandaj over the last three days.

Universities and schools across the country have also participated in the protests in the last two weeks, making their suppression a priority for the state. Security forces have visited several schools where protests have taken place and arrested its pupils.

Protesters have been killed in 18 provinces, with the most reported in Sistan and Baluchistan, Mazandaran, Gilan, Kurdistan and Western Azerbaijan. The most deaths were reported on 21, 22 and 30 September.

Deaths have been recorded in 18 provinces: Sistan and Baluchistan: 93 people; Mazandaran: 28 people; Kurdistan: 14 people; Gilan: 12 people; Western Azerbaijan: 12 people; Tehran: 11 people; Kermanshah: 8 people; Alborz: 5 people; Khorasan-Razavi: 3 people; Isfahan: 3 people; Kohgiluyeh and Boyer Ahmad: 2 people; Zanjan: 2 people; Qazvin: 2 people; East Azerbaijan: 2 people; Semnan: 1 person; Ilam: 1 person; Bushehr: 1 person; Khuzestan: 1 person.

Some were killed instantly and some passed away from their injuries later. According to reports received by Iran Human Rights, many of the injured protesters were refused admission to hospitals and medical centres or were treated at home due to the fear of arrest.

On October 9, protests took place in Rasht Central Prison (Lakan). According to reports, at least six prisoners were killed by prison guards. Iran Human Rights continues to investigate the events on Sunday and has not included the deaths at the prison in the protester death count.

Petrochemical and oil contract workers in Asalouyeh, Bushehr and Abadan have also joined the nationwide strikes and protests.

Iran Human Rights has further received numerous reports of the mass arrests of protesters and civil society activists who have been identified by intelligence agencies. The use of torture and ill-treatment against protesters has been widely reported, with at least two deaths in custody. Families have told Iran Human Rights that their loved ones are under pressure to force televised confessions.

On September 30, people gathered after Friday prayer in Zahedan to protest against the rape of a Baluch 15-year-old girl by Chabahar’s police chief which was bloodily suppressed by security forces. It has since been named “Zahedan’s Bloody Friday.” The number of those killed has been reported as at least 90 by the Baluch Activists Campaign. Some of those have died of injuries since the bloody crackdown. On October 3, four other Baluch citizens who were driving in an open roof car were shot and killed from a military helicopter in north Zahedan. Iran Human Rights has not counted their deaths in the total number.

It is important to note that efforts to verify many of the reported deaths are hindered by security issues and the internet shutdown. As such, many of the reported killings are still under investigation and the exact number of those killed is higher.