Iranians defy regime and take to streets for the 10th night in a row

Iranians defy the Islamic regime and take to the streets for the 10th night in a row over the death of woman, 22, arrested by morality police for ‘not wearing her hijab properly’

• Mahsa Amini died in custody after being arrested by morality police as ‘she was wearing her hijab too loosely’
• Demonstrations continued for a tenth night in a row this evening, in defiance of a warning from the judiciary
• Violent unrest has spread to at least 46 cities, towns and villages across Iran following Ms Amini’s death
• At least 41 people have died – including both protesters and members of the Islamic republic’s security force

Iranian protesters have defied the Islamic regime and taken to the streets for a tenth consecutive night in a row over the death of a woman in morality police custody arrested for ‘not wearing her hijab properly’.

Mahsa Amini, 22, died in custody after she was detained in Tehran by Iranian morality police who believed she was wearing her hijab too loosely.

Demonstrations continued for a tenth night in a row this evening, in defiance of a warning from the judiciary, with violent unrest having spread to at least 46 cities, towns and villages across Iran following her death.

Hundreds of demonstrators, reformist activists and journalists have been arrested amid the mostly night-time protests since unrest first broke out after Amini’s death on September 16. 

At least 41 people have died since the unrest began – including both protesters and some members of the Islamic republic’s security forces – according to an official toll, although other sources say the real figure is higher.

Oslo-based group Iran Human Rights (IHR) this evening said the death toll was at least 57, but noted that ongoing internet blackouts were making it increasingly difficult to confirm fatalities in a context where the women-led protests have in recent nights spread to scores of cities.

Echoing a warning the previous day by President Ebrahim Raisi, judiciary chief Gholamhossein Mohseni Ejei this evening ’emphasised the need for decisive action without leniency’ against those organising the ‘riots’, the judiciary’s Mizan Online website said.

Foreign Minister Hossein Amirabdollahian also criticised US support for the ‘rioters’ amid a security crackdown and curbs on internet and phones. 

Iran has summoned the British and Norwegian ambassadors over what it called interference and hostile media coverage of the nationwide unrest. 

Amini, whose Kurdish first name was Jhina, was detained three days before that for allegedly breaching the rules that mandate tightly-fitted hijab head coverings and which ban, among other things, ripped jeans and brightly coloured clothes.

Mahsa Amini, 22, died in police custody after being detained by Iranian morality police over hijab laws on September 16

At least 41 people have died since the unrest began – including both protesters and some members of the Islamic republic’s security forces

Oslo-based group Iran Human Rights (IHR) this evening said the death toll was at least 57, but noted that ongoing internet blackouts were making it increasingly difficult to confirm fatalities

Members of the Iranian community and their supporters rally in Ottawa, Canada, in solidarity with protesters in Iran

Protesters clashed with police as they called for an end to the Islamic Republic of Iran outside the London embassy earlier today

Activists of the ‘Femen’ organization hold placards showing solidarity with Iranian women during a protest near the Iranian Embassy in Paris

Members of the Iranian community and their supporters rally in solidarity with protesters in Iran today over Mahsa’s death

Amini, whose Kurdish first name was Jhina, was detained three days before that for allegedly breaching the rules that mandate tightly-fitted hijab head coverings

‘Rolling blackouts’ hit coverage of Iran  

The world has learnt of the violence largely through shaky mobile phone footage posted on social media, even as authorities have throttled internet access.

Web monitor NetBlocks noted ‘rolling blackouts’ and ‘widespread internet platform restrictions’, with WhatsApp, Instagram and Skype having already been blocked.

This followed older bans on Facebook, Twitter, TikTok and Telegram.

Protests abroad have been held in solidarity with Iranian women in Athens, Berlin, Brussels, Istanbul, Madrid, New York and Paris, among other cities.

EU foreign policy chief Josep Borrell deplored the security forces’ response to the unrest late Sunday as ‘disproportionate… unjustifiable and unacceptable’.

Iran – which is ruled by supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, 83, and which has been hit with tough economic sanctions over its nuclear programme – has blamed ‘foreign plots’ for the unrest.

The foreign ministry said Sunday it had summoned Britain’s ambassador over what it described as an ‘invitation to riots’ by Farsi-speaking media based in London, and Norway’s envoy over ‘unconstructive comments’ made by his country’s parliament speaker.

Foreign ministry spokesman Hossein Amir-Abdollahian criticised ‘the US interventionist approach in the affairs of Iran… including its provocative actions in supporting the rioters’. 

Images circulated by IHR showed protesters on the streets of Tehran, shouting ‘death to the dictator’, purportedly after nightfall tonight.

Security forces tackling the protests have fired live rounds and bird shot, namely small rubber or lead sphere.

EU foreign policy chief Josep Borrell deplored the security forces’ response to the unrest late this evening as ‘disproportionate… unjustifiable and unacceptable’. 

Meanwhile, protesters have hurled rocks, torched police cars and set ablaze state buildings.

Some Iranian women protesters have removed and burnt their hijabs in the rallies and cut off their hair, while others have danced near large bonfires to the applause of crowds chanting ‘zan, zendegi, azad’ – meaning ‘woman, life, freedom’.

The world has largely been made aware of the unrest via shaky mobile phone footage posted on social media, even as authorities have throttled internet access.

Internet monitor NetBlocks has noted ‘rolling blackouts’ and ‘widespread internet platform restrictions’, with WhatsApp, Instagram and Skype having already been blocked. This followed existing bans on Facebook, Twitter, TikTok and Telegram.

Protests abroad have been held in solidarity with Iranian women in Athens, Berlin, Brussels, Istanbul, Madrid and New York among other cities.

It comes as riot police arrested protesters reportedly trying to storm Iranian embassies in London and Paris today. 

Video footage from outside the English capital’s embassy showed a large group of people gathered, with police officers forming a line to stop the group from moving closer to the building.

Witnesses reported that some were trying to ‘attack’ and ‘storm’ Iranian embassies in both London and Paris, as people entered the British premises, ‘throwing rocks and chairs at the building’.

Dozens of demonstrators gathered at the embassy in Princes Gate, Knightsbridge, could be seen standing on walls, holding flags and placards in the street, with some throwing bottles and other objects at officers.

Pro-government rallies were also held today, with the main event taking place in Enghelab (Revolution) Square in central Tehran

Two police officers held a man down as others tried to hold the crowd of people back. Red paint was also thrown at the embassy building.

The protesters were calling for an end to the Islamic Republic of Iran, shouting and pushing against officers who had formed a line in front of the embassy.

Crowds chanted ‘Death to the Islamic Republic’ and waved Iran’s former national flag from before 1979. Footage shared online also showed violent altercations breaking out among those in the crowd.

Five people were arrested during the demonstration, with police officers injured by the ‘substantial group intent on causing disorder’, the Metropolitan Police said.

Meanwhile, Iran has blamed ‘foreign plots’ for the unrest.

The country, ruled by supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, has also organised large rallies in defence of the hijab and conservative values.

It comes as Iran has already been hit with tough economic sanctions over its nuclear programme.

Pro-government rallies were held today, with the main event taking place in Enghelab (Revolution) Square in central Tehran, where demonstrators voiced support for mandatory hijab laws.

But the main reformist group inside Iran, the Union of Islamic Iran People’s Party, has called for the repeal of the mandatory dress code.

Human rights groups based abroad have also sought to shine light on the turmoil rocking Iran, citing their own sources in the country.

IHR today reported that an umbrella of Iranian teachers’ unions were calling on teachers and students to boycott classes on Monday and Wednesday in support of the protests.

Iranian authorities have yet to state the cause of death of Amini, who activists say died as a result of a blow to the head.

Interior Minister Ahmad Vahidi has said Amini was not beaten and that “we must wait for the final opinion of the medical examiner”.

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