Millions of Iranian protesters filled the streets across the country on the 12th day of nationwide protests, with human rights groups saying at least 42 people including five minors have been killed so far.
The 42 documented fatalities include 29 protesters, eight security personnel and five children or adolescents, figures released on Thursday by the US-based rights group HRANA showed.
Reports of many more injured are still being verified amid restricted access to field information and medical data following a total internet shutdown, HRANA said.
More than 2,277 have also been arrested in 12 days of protests that started over economic woes but soon spiraled into an uprising to topple the Islamic Republic, according to the report.
“At least 60 new arrests were recorded on Thursday alone, bringing the total to over 2,277 detainees, among them at least 166 minors and 48 university students, while 45 coerced televised “confessions” have been broadcast by state media since the unrest began,” HRANA reported.
The report cited an extensive strike movement, particularly in Kurdish and Lur areas, saying tens of towns in Kurdistan, West Azarbaijan, Kermanshah and Ilam provinces joined market shutdowns, alongside partial closures in Tehran and cities including Arak, Qazvin, Zanjan, Urmia, Isfahan and Shiraz.
The group reports extensive use of tear gas and shooting—including aerial fire—in several cities such as Bijar, Khorramabad, Behbahan and parts of Karaj, as well as electricity cuts in some locations, which together have hampered documentation and contributed to an “information fog” around the true scale of casualties.
