Death toll in Iran protest violence rises to 116 as unrest enters third week
With internet access and phone lines largely cut, assessing the scale of unrest has become difficult
Violence linked to nationwide protests challenging Iran's theocratic rule has left at least 116 people dead, rights activists said, as demonstrations entered their third week amid an escalating government crackdown.
With internet access and phone lines largely cut, assessing the scale of unrest has become difficult. However, the US-based Human Rights Activists News Agency reported that more than 2,600 people have been detained, a figure the group says is based on verified sources and past tracking of unrest in Iran.
State television has focused on security force casualties and portrayed the situation as under control, while avoiding acknowledgment of civilian deaths and increasingly labeling protesters as "terrorists." Still, authorities admitted that protests continued into Sunday, including in Tehran and the holy city of Mashhad.
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Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei has signaled a tougher response despite warnings from Washington. Iran's Attorney General Mohammad Movahedi Azad warned that participation in protests could lead to charges of being an "enemy of God," a crime punishable by death. He also cautioned that anyone assisting demonstrators would face the same charge.
US President Donald Trump publicly voiced support for the protesters, while US officials warned Tehran against testing his resolve.
Despite heavy restrictions, videos verified by the Associated Press showed large crowds protesting in parts of Tehran, chanting slogans against the supreme leader. Iranian media close to the Revolutionary Guard claimed demonstrators used firearms and firebombs, while also reporting deaths among security personnel.
The protests began on 28 December, triggered by the collapse of the Iranian rial amid sanctions pressure, but quickly evolved into a broader challenge to Iran's political system. Rights advocates warn that the communications blackout could pave the way for a deadly crackdown, recalling past protests where hundreds were killed.
