CNN
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Protesters encountered teargas and gunfire following Friday prayers within the jap Iranian metropolis of Zahedan, in keeping with movies posted on social media and supplied by IranWire, an activist web site.
Automatic gunfire could be heard within the movies, which additionally present protesters selecting up bullet casings on the bottom.
According to a video posted on 1500tasvir, a minimum of one 12-year-old boy was shot.
Responding to information of the conflict, United Nations Secretary General spokesman Stephane Dujarric mentioned on Friday that the worldwide physique is “increasingly concerned about the reports of rising fatalities” of protestors in Iran.
“Today, a number of protesters were reportedly killed in Zahedan, the capital of Sistan and Baluchestan Province,” he mentioned. “We condemn all incidents which have resulted in loss of life or severe damage to protestors and reiterate that safety forces should keep away from all pointless or disproportionate use of pressure towards peaceable protestors. Those accountable have to be held to account.
The Sistan and Baluchistan safety council mentioned safety forces and civilians have been injured after being shot by “unknown people,” in keeping with state media.
Protesters threw rocks at safety forces and chanted “death to Khamenei,” referring to Iran’s supreme chief, in keeping with video posted on 1500tasvir.
State-run IRNA information company reported that protesters set fireplace to tires and chanted anti-government slogans.
A heavy safety presence was seen shifting into town earlier than the beginning of prayers on Friday, in keeping with video posted on social media.
Zahedan is situated within the Sistan and Baluchistan province, which neighbors Pakistan and is residence to the Baluch ethnic minority. The area has a historical past of unrest and violence with armed teams finishing up assaults towards Iranian safety personnel.
Zahedan noticed giant protests on September 30 towards the alleged rape of a Baluch woman by a police chief, in keeping with Baluch Activists Campaign.
The Sistan and Baluchistan province safety committee eliminated the top of police in Zahedan and the top of police precinct 16 on Thursday, in keeping with state-run IRNA.
Internet connectivity has been disrupted regionally within the province, in keeping with web watchdog NetBlocks on Friday.
“Metrics show that internet connectivity has been disrupted regionally in #Zahedan, Sistan and Baluchestan Province, #Iran, amid reports that several protesters have been shot by security forces,” NetBlocks mentioned in a tweet.
Demonstrations have additionally taken place within the cities of Saravan, Iranshahr, Chabahar and Nikshahr after Sunni Friday prayers, in keeping with state-run IRNA.
The protests come amid nationwide demonstations following the loss of life of 22-year-old Mahsa Amini after she was detained by the Islamic Republic’s “morality police,” sparking outrage amongst Iranians who took to the streets to demand extra freedoms.