Iran: activists call for mass demonstrations on Saturday

Iranian activists called for mass protests across the country on Saturday (October 15th) as the protest movement sparked by the death of Mahsa Amini entered its fifth week despite a deadly crackdown.

Outrage over the September 16 death of this 22-year-old Iranian Kurd has sparked the biggest wave of protests and violence in Iran since the 2019 protests over rising gas prices in the oil-rich country. .

"Violent blow to the head"

Mahsa Amini was arrested on September 13 by the morality police in Tehran for allegedly violating the Islamic Republic's strict dress code for women, including the wearing of the veil.

Iranian authorities say the young woman died of illness and not of "

", according to a medical report rejected by her father.

Her cousin said she died after "

".

Since then, young women, students and schoolgirls have spearheaded protests in which they chant anti-government slogans, set their headscarves on fire and clash with security forces.

At least 108 people have been killed since September 16, according to the Oslo-based Iran Human Rights (IHR) association.

For its part, Amnesty deplored the death of at least 23 children "

", adding that they were between 11 and 17 years old.

"The beginning of the end"

Two members of the security forces were shot and killed in the southern province of Fars as part of the protests, bringing to at least 20 the number of members of the security forces killed since the start of the dispute, local authorities reported on Friday. official media.

Despite authorities blocking internet access to popular apps such as Instagram and WhatsApp, activists launched an online call for mass protests on Saturday under the slogan "

of the regime.

They encouraged young people and the Iranian population to demonstrate in places where the security forces are not present and to chant "

", in reference to the Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei.

The protest movement has prompted solidarity rallies abroad as well as Western sanctions targeting Iranian officials and institutions accused of involvement in the crackdown.

“France condemns the repression”

On Friday, Tehran condemned the remarks of French President Emmanuel Macron, who on Wednesday expressed his "

" for the "

" and "

" who demonstrate.

And "

", he said again.

Emmanuel Macron's remarks are "

" and they served to encourage "

," Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesman Nasser Kanani said in a statement on Friday.

Analysts say the multifaceted nature of anti-government protests, including young people who gather in small groups in certain neighborhoods to avoid detection, makes it difficult for law enforcement to try to stop them.

In an open letter published on its front page on Thursday, the reformist newspaper

called on Iran's top security official to end arrests made under "

".

Read alsoDemonstrations in Iran: “The death of Mahsa Amini woke up Iranian men”

In recent days, deadly clashes between demonstrators and security forces have taken place in particular in Sanandaj, capital of the province of Kurdistan where Mahsa Amini was from.

The city of Zahedan (southeast) was also affected by violence sparked on September 30 during demonstrations against the alleged rape of a young girl by a police officer, which left at least 94 dead according to the IHR.