UN urges Iran to not use ‘pointless’ pressure as anti-hijab protest loss of life toll touches 50 | Top factors

Over 50 individuals have been killed after Iranian safety forces cracked down on the crackdown on protests that erupted over the loss of life of 22-year-old Mahsa Amini, who had been detained by the nation’s morality police, an Oslo-based Iran Human Rights (IHR) NGO mentioned.

The Oslo-based Iran Human Rights (IHR) NGO mentioned the rise within the toll got here after six individuals had been killed by hearth from the safety forces within the city of Rezvanshahr within the northern Gilan province on Thursday night time, with different deaths recorded in Babol and Amol, additionally in northern Iran, reported Agence France-Presse (AFP).

ALSO READ | Anti-hijab protests rock Iran over Mahsa Amini’s loss of life in custody: What we all know to date

UN URGES IRAN NOT TO USE ‘UNNECESSARY’ FORCE

United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres has appealed for Iranian safety forces to chorus from utilizing “unnecessary or disproportionate force” towards anti-government protests.

He additionally urged everybody to train restraint to keep away from additional escalation, mentioned Guterres’ spokesman Stephane Dujarric.

“We are concerned about reports of peaceful protests being met with excessive use of force leading to dozens of deaths and injuries,” Dujarric advised reporters in New York. “We further call on the authorities to respect the right to freedoms of expression, peaceful assembly and association.”

US HELPS EXPAND INTERNET FREEDOM IN IRAN

The US National Security Agency (NSA) has mentioned the US treasury and state division had been serving to broaden web freedom in Iran amid the federal government crackdown.

“We’ll proceed to carry Iranian officers accountable and help the courageous Iranians protesting following the loss of life of Mahsa Amini within the custody of Iran‘s Morality Police,” the security agency said.

ELON MUSK TO ACTIVATE STARLINK

Tesla CEO Elon Musk, who is also the founder of SpaceX, on Friday said he was activating a satellite internet service, Starlink, amid the internet shutdown in Iran. Musk’s response came to a tweet by a high-ranking US official who said the US took action “to advance internet freedom and the free flow of information” to Iranians. The US government on Friday issued guidelines to expand internet services to Iranians despite US sanctions over the Islamic Republic’s nuclear programme.

PROTESTERS BURN STATUE OF RELIGIOUS LEADER

Agitators have burnt the statue of Iran’s supreme spiritual chief Khamenei’s statue his personal hometown Mashhad amid rising protests after he kept away from commenting on ongoing protests in his first public look since anti-regime demonstrations sparked by the loss of life of a younger girl in police custody escalated.

PRO-GOVERNMENT RALLIES HELD AMID MASSIVE PROTESTS

Counterprotesters held rallies throughout the nation on Friday in a present of help for authorities after per week of anti-government protests. Thousands attended the rally in Tehran, the place they waved Iranian flags. Similar demonstrations had been held in different cities. However, the federal government claimed the demonstrations of help had been spontaneous.

The pro-government counterprotesters chanted slogans towards America and Israel, in accordance with state media.

Amini’s loss of life for “unsuitable attire” attracted robust ire as lately, thousands and thousands of Iranian girls have opposed the legislation which makes hijab obligatory for ladies in Iran. Under Iran’s sharia (Islamic) legislation, imposed after the 1979 revolution, girls are obliged to cowl their hair and put on lengthy, loose-fitting garments to disguise their figures. Violators face public rebuke, fines or arrest. The morality police are charged with implementing that and different restrictions, which has been criticized lately, particularly for its remedy of younger girls.

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