Iran's government faces mounting criticism for its handling of ongoing protests, with reports emerging of three children being killed in just over a week. The unrest has spread to at least 78 cities and 222 locations across the country, with demonstrators calling for an end to the regime.
The protests, sparked by economic woes and currency collapse, have turned violent as security forces crack down on dissenters. In recent days, the authorities have been accused of using "indiscriminate targeting" tactics, firing directly at protesters despite knowing there are minors among them.
At least 990 people have been arrested in the past week, with many more injured and some reportedly killed by the security forces. The victims include teenagers aged 15 and 17, as well as a young adult who was shot alongside his brothers during protests.
Human rights groups, including the US-based Human Rights Activists in Iran (HRAI), have documented the killings and arrests of minors, with at least 44 children taken into custody. The group's deputy director, Skylar Thompson, condemned the security forces' actions as "a clear violation of international law" that must be widely condemned.
The situation has been described by witnesses as chaotic, with protesters being shot at and injured despite attempts to show restraint. In one incident, a witness reported seeing security forces firing directly at protesters, including children and teenagers, without regard for the consequences.
The violence has also raised concerns about the safety of hospitals in protest hotspots, where injured patients have been taken only to be raided by security forces. One hospital in Ilam was reportedly attacked on Saturday night, with witnesses describing a "war zone" atmosphere as protesters were beaten and shot at.
As protests continue, the government's response has sparked widespread condemnation from human rights groups, who are calling for an end to the violence and for those responsible to be held accountable.
The protests, sparked by economic woes and currency collapse, have turned violent as security forces crack down on dissenters. In recent days, the authorities have been accused of using "indiscriminate targeting" tactics, firing directly at protesters despite knowing there are minors among them.
At least 990 people have been arrested in the past week, with many more injured and some reportedly killed by the security forces. The victims include teenagers aged 15 and 17, as well as a young adult who was shot alongside his brothers during protests.
Human rights groups, including the US-based Human Rights Activists in Iran (HRAI), have documented the killings and arrests of minors, with at least 44 children taken into custody. The group's deputy director, Skylar Thompson, condemned the security forces' actions as "a clear violation of international law" that must be widely condemned.
The situation has been described by witnesses as chaotic, with protesters being shot at and injured despite attempts to show restraint. In one incident, a witness reported seeing security forces firing directly at protesters, including children and teenagers, without regard for the consequences.
The violence has also raised concerns about the safety of hospitals in protest hotspots, where injured patients have been taken only to be raided by security forces. One hospital in Ilam was reportedly attacked on Saturday night, with witnesses describing a "war zone" atmosphere as protesters were beaten and shot at.
As protests continue, the government's response has sparked widespread condemnation from human rights groups, who are calling for an end to the violence and for those responsible to be held accountable.
. I mean, come on, it's just a bunch of kids taking a stand against their government. They should've seen it coming - what's new, right? The fact that there are 222 locations being protested across the country is actually kinda impressive, don't you think? I bet they'd be getting a lot more attention if people didn't already know about Iran's "problems". And let's not forget, those reports of security forces firing directly at protesters without regard for civilians are probably just a tiny bit exaggerated 
.
. i mean, what's next? firing at protesters with no regard for human life? it's like a real-life video game or something 
. and don't even get me started on the hospitals being raided... like, what even is that? 
. seriously though, 44 kids taken into custody just because they're protesting? that's just messed up 
. the whole situation is a total mess, and i'm not sure how much more of this we can take before something snaps 
This is just heartbreaking... I mean, 3 kids killed in a week? It's like they're playing with fire over our lives here. The authorities need to take responsibility for their actions and not use this as an excuse to crack down on peaceful protests. We need to stand up for the youth who are fighting for what's right, even if it means facing bullets. 
. Can't believe they're killing kids and arresting tons of people over economy stuff. Like, what even is that? The government's response is so brutal and it's only making things worse 
. This is not okay, people need to speak up and demand change 
.
It's not right.
That's not how it works. You need to address the underlying issues and work with people, not against them.
. There needs to be a middle ground here.
They're trying to cover up the truth about what's really happening with these protests, but it's getting harder to deny it. I mean, 990 people arrested and at least 44 kids taken into custody? That's not a coincidence, that's a planned operation. And those human rights groups, they're always quick to condemn anyone who dares to question the government... 
. I mean idk what the gov is thinkin by crackin down so hard they gotta know they're puttin innocent lives in danger. Can't they see the writing on the wall? 
The whole situation sounds super chaotic, i'm kinda worried about the hospitals, did u hear that 1 hospital was raided while patients were still bein treated?! 
990+ people arrested, including at least 44 kids as young as 10 
what's the point of protests if you're just gonna get picked off by security forces? 
it's chaos out there, with hospitals being raided and protesters getting beaten & shot 
these human rights groups are sounding the alarm, but is anyone listening? 
the international community needs to step up their game and demand accountability from Iran 
i dont get why dey cant jus listen 2 ppl & find a way 2 solve their probs instead of just shootin @ ppl 
i hear its 222 locations now 
78 cities and all dat is crazy 990 arrested in a week alone 
gotta get thru 2 dis or watever is goin on 
... and the way they're being targeted by security forces? it's like they're trying to crush the spirit of these young people 
... but you gotta wonder if there's a better way to address them than violence and oppression 
... and those human rights groups are right, this is a clear violation of international law 
... I don't know what the solution is, but we gotta do something about this 
The thought of innocent kids being caught up in this is just heartbreaking. It's not like we haven't seen this before - how many times do governments have to get away with using excessive force against their own people before we step in and say enough is enough?! 
hospital attack war zone atmosphere 
protesters beating shooting innocent ppl 
government gotta listen people voice 
. And the fact that security forces are firing on minors despite knowing they're there? It's like, what even is happening?! 
! Skylar Thompson from HRAI is like, super vocal about this stuff, and I admire her for standing up for the victims' families 
. We gotta keep pushing for accountability and an end to this violence