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Iran: At least 63 protesters killed in Zahedan by security forces, says Norway-based rights group

As per the Norway-based Iran Human Rights (IHR) NGO, at least 63 people were killed after Iranian security forces suppressed a protest in the city of Zahedan last week. the protesters accused a police chief in the port city of Chabahar, also in Sistan-Baluchistan of raping a 15-year-old Baluch girl.

TN World Desk

Updated Oct 5, 2022, 01:44 IST

In this Saturday, Oct. 1, 2022, photo taken by an individual not employed by the Associated Press and obtained by the AP outside Iran, tear gas is fired by security to disperse protestors in front of the Tehran University, Iran

Photo : AP

Tehran: At least 63 people were killed after Iranian security forces suppressed a protest in the city of Zahedan last week, said the Norway-based Iran Human Rights (IHR) NGO on Tuesday. The clashes erupted in southeastern Iran's Zahedan city on September 30 after Friday prayers.

As per the rights group, the protesters accused a police chief in the port city of Chabahar, also in Sistan-Baluchistan of raping a 15-year-old Baluch girl. Notably, Zahedan is the capital city of the Sistan-Baluchistan province of the country. It is home to the Baluch ethnic minority who follows Sunni Islam.

The protests at Zahedan sparked amid the nationwide demonstrations that erupted after the death of Mahsa Amini who was arrested by the morality police for allegedly wearing her hijab improperly.

Also Read: US warns Iran to face 'costs' for crackdown on Amini protests.

"On September 30, people gathered after Friday prayer in Zahedan to protest against the rape of a Baluch 15-year-old girl by Chabahar's police chief, which was bloodily suppressed by security forces," the IHR said in a statement as quoted by AFP. Previously, the rights group had claimed that 41 people died in the protests.

As per media reports, several protesters died in hospitals due to a lack of beds and bandages. Some activists also accused security forces of shooting at protesters from helicopters. As per the rights group, four people driving in an open-roof car were killed by fire from a military helicopter in the northern part of the city.

However, state media claimed that five members of the Revolutionary Guards were killed in the protests. It called the protests a "terrorist" incident. Notably, Sunni Muslim extremist groups occasionally attack Iranian security forces in Sistan-Baluchistan province.

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