AFP journalists see 2 petrol stations, police stations and government buildings on fire in Tehran
London, Geneva … News Time
The UN has expressed concern over reports of casualties and warned against the use of force by human rights organization Amnesty International in a statement issued in Iran over the past five days. Amnesty International said at least 106 protesters have been killed in 21 cities, according to AFP reports in the French newspaper AFP. It added that the actual death toll could rise even further as some reports put the number at 200.
Iran, on the other hand, has officially confirmed the death toll of at least 5 people, including 3 security personnel, who were allegedly killed by demonstrators with knife wounds. Meanwhile, the UN Human Rights Office says reports of direct ammunition use against protesters are concerned as a result, a large number of deaths occurred in Iran. However, UN Human Rights Commission spokesman Rupert Colville warned that it is difficult to confirm the casualties due to the Internet shutdown in Iran for 3 days. Iranian media and other sources say dozens of people have been killed in protests, he told reporters in Geneva and many people were injured in 8 provinces while over 1000 protesters have been arrested. In the entire situation, Iranian authorities say the detainees have committed a confession that they were trained in Iran and outside the country and paid for the burning of government buildings.
“We urge Iranian authorities and security forces to refrain from using force to disperse peaceful rallies,” Rupert Colville said. They also demanded peaceful demonstration against the protesters without harming them with any violence and property. AFP reporters saw two petrol stations and police stations on fire in Tehran. Amnesty International urges Iranian authorities to ban Internet access in order to get crackdown information on the world. The World Organization added that a video footage was seen shooting snipers at a crowd of people from the roof and in one case a helicopter was seen doing so. In addition, a spokesman for the Iranian government says that in some provinces, the internet will be gradually restored when there is assurance that the Internet will not be misused. It should be noted that protests are taking place across the country against the Iranian government’s unexpected decision to increase petrol prices.
The Iranian government had said that the initial 60 liters would increase by 50% and that each month it would increase by 300%.Massive protests continue in Abadan, Ahvaz, Bandar Abbas, Birjand, Khorramshahr, Mashhad and Shiraz, besides Sirjan, after the price hike. Be aware that Iran is facing severe difficulties following US sanctions on economic matters and the government announced a hike in oil prices to ease the financial burden.
