I saw it with my own eyes - they fired directly into lines of protesters, and people fell where they stood, said Omid, an eyewitness who fears for his safety. He has been protesting against worsening economic conditions in southern Iran and describes how security forces unleashed violence on unarmed demonstrators.
On a recent Friday, he recounted horrifying scenes of bloodshed as the military pressed down on peaceful protests. This escalation comes amid major anti-government demonstrations across the country, where dissent over economic mismanagement has surged.
Reports state that internet access has been systematically cut off, complicating the efforts of international media to verify claims and assess the extent of casualties. The Iranian government’s refusal to release official statistics on the death toll has raised alarm amongst human rights organizations.
Eyewitness accounts indicate a vast use of lethal force, likening the situation to a battlefield where unarmed civilians are met with an aggressive military. We are fighting a brutal regime with empty hands, Omid expressed, reflecting the despair that many protesters feel.
In Tehran, a young woman described the atmosphere as reminiscent of the day of judgement, with streets filled with chaos, and widespread fear gripping the population as protests turned violent.
Accounts from Fardis indicated sudden attacks by paramilitary forces on protesters after a period of quiet. Eyewitnesses reported live ammunition being used against crowds, and fatalities are now feared to be in the hundreds, with various groups estimating vastly different death tolls.
Organizations monitoring the situation emphasize that the actual count of victims may exceed the figures reported, as many bodies remain unaccounted for in overwhelmed medical facilities.
The international community is now urged to take swift action as the Iranian government doubles down on suppressing dissent, raising concerns over human rights violations amidst severe humanitarian needs.
