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After an intense day marked by the end of the mourning period for Amini, protests intensify in Mahabad, where demonstrators have burned down government buildings after security forces killed a young man

Iran protests: Police attack protesters at Mahsa Amini's grave 40 days after her death

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Elnaz Rekabi, from forced interview to heroic welcome in Iran

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Political prisoners in Iran warn of being threatened with death in Evin

Iran commemorates 40 days of mourning for Mahsa Amini despite threats from authorities

AFP/UGC - A woman without a veil walks to the cemetery in Saqqez, Mahsa Amini's hometown
Margarita Arredondas
Updated: 27/10/22

A kilometre-long line of people and vehicles winds along the road leading to Saqqez like a pilgrimage. The town, located in Iranian Kurdistan, is the hometown of Mahsa Amini, the 22-year-old murdered last September for wearing her veil incorrectly.

Despite pressure and threats from the authorities, her relatives, as well as thousands of Iranians, chose to gather at the Saqqez cemetery to pay tribute to her 40 days after her death.

As expected, the Iranian authorities have not even respected the end of the mourning period. "Security forces fired tear gas and opened fire on people in Zindan Square in Saqqez," denounces Hengaw, an organisation that monitors human rights violations in the Iranian Kurdistan Region. 

The Iranian regime had previously tried to prevent Amini's relatives from commemorating this special day. The state news agency IRNA issued a statement saying that no ceremony was planned to avoid "any trouble". The security services also warned the family not to carry out any ceremonies, otherwise they "should worry about their son's life". Hengaw also reported roadblocks in Saqqez and police deployments to prevent Iranians from other cities from visiting Amini's grave. 

However, the authorities' measures did not prevent thousands from gathering at the city's cemetery, where, in addition to remembering Amini, they chanted slogans that have become symbols of the protests, such as "Death to the dictator", "Ali Khamenei will be overthrown" and "woman, life, freedom".

During the day, new strikes were called in several parts of Kurdistan, as well as in the rest of the country. Oil and gas workers also joined in support of the historic protests. 

Late last night, Iran International reported protests in 30 cities across the country. The media outlet notes that in Tehran, for example, protests intensified in the evening. Based on videos posted on social media, this day's demonstrations could be "the strongest so far", according to Iran International. 

Now the focus is on Mahabad, a Kurdish-majority city in the west of the country. As reported by Hengaw, Esmail Moloudi was shot dead by security forces during last night's protests. Also, according to videos posted on social media, protesters responded to the killing by attacking the city governor's office and burning several government buildings.

The death toll rises and the pressure on doctors to cover up protesters' deaths increases

Esmail Moloudi has raised the death toll since the protests began in September. According to the latest figures from Iran Human Rights (IHRNGO), more than 230 Iranians - including 29 children - have lost their lives in the demonstrations. 

The region that continues to top the list of those killed in the protests is Sistan and Baluchestan in the east of the country. The province is home to the Baloch minority, an ethnic group targeted by the regime and often subject to discrimination and abuse by the authorities. 

The organisation also alleges that, in many cases, the authorities have tried to cover up the deaths of protesters. IHRNG notes that "the return of the bodies depends on the families promising to remain silent or accepting the false causes of death". If they do not accept, the deceased are buried without notice to relatives and far from their homes. 

To force the families to accept these conditions, the regime has used "physical and mental ill-treatment". In addition, the "causes" of death that the authorities usually present are falls from a height, traffic accidents, drug or alcohol overdose and poisoning. 

Moreover, the pressure on doctors and medical staff is increasing. Security forces force them to sign death certificates that conceal the real cause of death of protesters. Since the beginning of the protests, organisations such as IHRNGO have denounced that the police used ambulances to transport officers and that, in many cases, those injured in the demonstrations were arrested once they arrived at the hospitals. 

iran-protests-mahsa-amini

For Mahmood Amiry-Moghaddam, the organisation's director, these are all examples of "the Islamic Republic's disregard and violation of international laws and moral principles to cover up its crimes". Amiry-Moghaddam calls on international bodies such as the World Health Organisation (WHO) and the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) to take action. "They must show an urgent and appropriate reaction to these violations," he adds.

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