Iranian general: More than 300 dead in unrest
DUBAI, United Arab Emirates — An Iranian general Monday acknowledged that more than 300 people have been killed in the unrest surrounding nationwide protests, giving the first official word on casualties in two months.
That estimate is considerably lower than the toll reported by Human Rights Activists in Iran, a U.S.based group that has been closely tracking the protests since they erupted after the Sept. 16 death of a 22-yearold woman being held by the country’s morality police.
The activist group says 451 protesters and 60 security forces have been killed since the start of the unrest and that more than 18,000 people have been detained.
The protests were sparked by the death of 22-year-old Mahsa Amini, who was detained for allegedly violating the Islamic Republic’s strict dress code.
Gen. Amir Ali Hajizadeh,
commander of the aerospace division of the paramilitary Revolutionary Guard, was quoted by a website close to the Guard as saying more than 300 have been killed, including “martyrs,” an apparent reference to security forces.
He suggested many killed were ordinary Iranians not involved in the protests.
The protests have spread across the country and drawn support from artists, athletes and other public figures.
The niece of Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei has called on people to pressure their governments to cut ties with Tehran over its suppression of the demonstrations.
In a video posted online by her France-based brother, Farideh Moradkhani urged “conscientious people of the world” to support Iranian protesters. The video was shared online this week after Moradkhani’s reported arrest Nov. 23, according to the activist group.