Around 2,000 people killed in protests in Iran: report

About 2,000 people have been killed during ongoing protests across Iran, Reuters reported on Tuesday, citing an Iranian official.

The official blamed what he described as “terrorists” for the deaths of both civilians and members of the security forces.

The unrest began on December 28 after sharp increases in prices sparked public anger. What started as economic protests soon turned into a broader movement against Iran’s clerical leadership, which has ruled the country since the 1979 Islamic Revolution.

Independent rights groups, however, have reported lower casualty figures. US-based organisation HRANA said that it had confirmed the deaths of 490 protesters and 48 security personnel.

The group also reported that more than 10,600 people have been arrested during the first two weeks of demonstrations.

Concern has also been raised at the international level. United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights Volker Turk said that he was “horrified” by the growing use of force by Iranian security forces against protesters. He warned that “this cycle of horrific violence cannot continue” and said the Iranian people’s calls for “fairness, equality and justice must be heard”.

When asked about the number of people killed, UN human rights office spokesperson Jeremy Laurence said that the organisation was relying on its own sources inside Iran. “The number that we’re hearing is hundreds,” he said, without providing further details.