Country: Iran
ICHR strongly condemns the lethal use of force and the cutting off communications in Iran. And condemns Ayatollah Khamenei for the deaths of the protesters.
Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Khamenei described the people of Iran protesting against the fuel price increases, as “thugs” spurred on by foreign influence as protests entered a third day on Sunday. And endorsed the government’s decision to raise prices it sets for rationed gasoline by 50 percent as of Friday and by 300 percent for gasoline that exceeds ration limits.
On state television Sunday, Khamenei acknowledged that “some lost their lives and some places were destroyed” while condemn of demonstrators and implying they had been influenced by counterrevolutionaries and foreign influencers.
In response to people’s peaceful protest Khamenei ordered an almost complete nationwide internet blackout on Sunday one of its most draconian attempts to cut off Iranians from each other and the rest of the world as widespread anti-government unrest roiled the streets of Tehran and other cities for a third day. The death toll for the three days of protests has risen to at least 12hundred injured, more than 1,000 people arrested, and more than 40 people killed.
“More than 40 people have been killed 12hundred injured, and more than 1000 arrested just for demonstrating their rights to freedom of expression, Ayatollah Khamenei must be held accountable for ordering the Attack’s, arrests, and the killings of the Iranian protesters.” Said; Ardeshire Zarezadeh, Executive Director for Iran, and The Middle East at ICHR Canada.
In the past, Iran has met such widespread protest movements with forceful crackdowns that have crushed dissent.
Mr. Khamenei’s support of the gas price hike effectively put an end to parliament’s attempt to challenge the decision, and lawmakers took back a bill they had introduced to reverse the new policy.
But protests raged and criticism continued. At least two lawmakers resigned in opposition to parliament’s not being consulted. In the cities from Tehran to Shiraz in the south, Iranian protesters chanted, “Death to Khamenei.”
The regime is facing a serious crisis and unless they concede someplace to relieve the pressures, the anger and the violence will continue,
ICHR strongly condemns the lethal use of force and the cutting of communications in Iran. And we stand in solidarity with the Iranian people in their peaceful protests against the regime. The government of Iran must be held accountable for their crimes in the past 40 yrs against the people of Iran.