Protests erupted in various cities in the Islamic Republic
of Iran for the first time in weeks, according to the group Human Rights
Activists in Iran.
Protesters marched through the streets of Tehran, Arak,
Isfahan, Sanandaj and Izeh in the Khuzestan province, videos purported to show
Friday.
The Hengaw Organization for Human Rights shared the videos
on Twitter, which showed protesters burning roadblocks in Sanandaj, the capital
of Kurdistan Province in the Islamic Republic of Iran. Protesters chanted, “Death
to the Dictator!” Similar incidents were also reported in Tehran, the capital
of the Islamic Republic of Iran.
February 16 marked 40 days after the execution of Mohammad
Mehdi Karami. He was executed for his involvement in the Mahsa Amini protests.
However, Iranian state media did not acknowledge the
protests.
The protests erupted in the Islamic Republic in September
2022 over the death of a 22-year-old Iranian woman, Mahsa Amini, after her
arrest by the country’s morality police. She was arrested on September 13 for
allegedly wearing a loose hijab and an inappropriate outfit. The country’s
morality police took her to the detention centre. However, she collapsed on the
floor and was taken to a hospital in Tehran. She died on September 16 at the
hospital. Since then, the demonstrations have morphed into one of the most
serious challenges to the Iranian regime since the 1979 Islamic Revolution.
The protests slowed down in recent weeks due to executions
and crackdowns. The Iranian authorities executed some people who participated
in the protests.
According to Human Rights Activists in Iran, at least 529
people have been killed in protests. The Iranian authorities also detained
19,700 people amid a violent crackdown on protests.
The Iranian authorities have repeatedly accused foreign foes
of fomenting protests in the country. However, Iran’s hard-line government did
not provide any evidence to support its claims.