Protests have erupted worldwide following reports of over 3,000 demonstrators being killed during Iran’s forceful crackdown on protests. The country’s 90 million inhabitants woke up to internet restrictions and disrupted phone services after a series of protests provoked a severe response from authorities.
Witnesses observed hospitals overwhelmed with casualties as protesters flooded the streets of Tehran and Mashhad, with fresh demonstrations captured in videos on Monday. The main opposition MEK in Iran claimed over 3,000 people lost their lives during the 16-day protests, denouncing the government’s actions as a grave violation of human rights.
Meanwhile, Downing Street downplayed the likelihood of labeling Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) as a terrorist organization. Former MI6 chief, Sir Richard Moore, cautioned that such a move may not yield practical benefits and could serve as a symbolic gesture.
During a pro-regime rally in Iran, attendees displayed images of Ayatollah Ali Khamenei and chanted anti-US and anti-Israel slogans. In London, a protester set fire to an image of Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, while in Berlin, demands for the return of Reza Pahlavi, son of Iran’s late ruler, were voiced.
While official estimates cite around 600 protester casualties, opposition factions in Iran claim the death toll could be as high as 3,000 individuals. Efforts to quell the unrest included mass rallies featuring a dummy of Donald Trump, as authorities sought to restore order across the nation.
Anti-regime sentiments were further displayed with images of Mohammad Reza Pahlavi in London and warnings issued by police urging families to safeguard their youth amidst the ongoing unrest. Symbolic visuals like billboards showing coffins draped with American and Israeli flags in Tehran and signs from anti-regime protests in Los Angeles continued to be visible.