Protests were held across Iran for the eighth consecutive day, with demonstrations, strikes, and student unrest reported at 222 locations across 78 cities in 26 provinces, a US-based human rights group reported, as the overall death toll rose to 20, APA reports, citing iranintl.com.
Despite intensified security measures, increased deployment of police and security forces, and continued confrontations in several areas, the geographic spread of protests has remained intact, the Human Rights Activists News Agency (HRANA) said.
Over the past eight days, at least 19 civilians and one member of security forces have been killed, based on the data verified by HRANA. At least 51 people were also injured, most caused by pellet and rubber bullets.
Protests initially began with labor strikes and professional gatherings and have continued with broader street demonstrations, limited trade stoppages, and student protests openly calling for regime change.
HRANA said 17 universities have seen student activism during the unrest.
In the past 24 hours alone, unrest was reported in more than 20 cities, including Tehran, Mashhad, Shiraz, Karaj, Qazvin, Yazd, Bandar Abbas, Tabriz, Kermanshah, Khorramabad, Shahrud, Dorud, Gachsaran, Yasuj, Bushehr, Lahijan, Nishapur, Mahallat, Rudbar, Borujerd, and Marvdasht, alongside heightened security deployments in several areas.
The protests have not been confined to major urban centers, with smaller cities and regional towns also affected—an indication of the horizontal spread of unrest across different social and geographic layers.
Reports and verified videos from multiple cities showed continued use of force by security services, including tear gas, live fire, pellet guns, and mass arrests.
The deadliest crackdown took place in the city of Malekshahi in Ilam province, western Iran, on Saturday where security forces opened fire on protesters, killing at least five and injuring 30 others, according to information obtained by Iran International.
