Violent Crackdown of Protests in Iran: International Community Must Act

Iran Human Rights Director, Mahmood Amiry-Moghaddam said: “Anti-government protest caused by the incompetence of Islamic Republic leaders, is the inalienable and legal right of all citizens. Those responsible for the bloody crackdown of the protests must realise that they’re committing international crimes, and sooner or later they will be held accountable for their crimes against protesters.”

Protests, which erupted in several parts of Iran on May 7 following the sudden rise in prices of basic foods such as bread and cost of living crisis, became more widespread in the days that ensued.

The protests began in Dezful, Mahshahr, Izeh and Shadegan, and soon spread to other cities across Iran including in Shahrekord, Jooneghan, Doroud, Khorramabad, Boroujerd, Dehdasht, Pardanjan, Yazd, Rasht, Neishabur, Behbahan, Andimeshk, Sough and other smaller and larger cities by May 11.

Protesters have been chanting anti-government slogans especially against Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei and President Ebrahim Raisi.

Security forces have been violently cracking down on protesters. According to reports, at least five people have been killed as of May 15. Due to limited access to the internet by citizens and the lack of a free press, the exact number of deaths, injuries and arrests are not known.

However, there have been reports of widespread arrests in various cities. The international community’s silence may be considered a green light by the authorities to continue their crackdown and killing of protesters, leading to a greater bloodshed like that of December 2016/January 2017 and November 2019 protests.