At least four people were killed on Saturday in Malekshahi, Ilam province, after rights groups said security forces used live ammunition against protesters. Hengaw and Iran Human Rights reported multiple wounded and are investigating additional deaths; footage released by monitors could not be independently verified. The unrest has spread widely — monitored at dozens of cities and hundreds of locations nationwide — with hundreds of arrests and multiple fatalities reported. The UN special rapporteur warned authorities against repeating the harsh crackdown seen during 2022–2023.
At Least Four Killed in Western Iran as Nationwide Protests Enter Seventh Day, Rights Groups Say
Protests entered a seventh day on Saturday (HANDOUT)(HANDOUT/FARS NEWS AGENCY/AFP)
At least four people were killed on Saturday in western Iran during clashes between demonstrators and security forces, two Norway-based rights organisations said, accusing the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) of opening fire on protesters.
Rights Groups Report Deadly Fire in Malekshahi
Hengaw reported that IRGC forces used live ammunition against demonstrators in the Malekshahi district of Ilam province, killing four members of Iran's Kurdish minority. Hengaw said it was investigating additional reports that two more people may have been killed and that dozens were wounded.
Iran Human Rights (also based in Norway) said at least four people were killed and about 30 wounded after "security forces attacked the protests" in Malekshahi. It posted footage purporting to show bloodied bodies on the ground; the images and casualty figures could not be independently verified immediately.
Official Reports and Media Accounts
Iranian state-linked media also reported violence. The Mehr news agency said a Revolutionary Guard was killed after what it described as "rioters" attempted to enter a police station. An AFP tally, based on official statements and media reports, said the unrest has touched at least 30 cities to varying degrees, mostly medium-sized urban centres.
Official tallies cited by authorities say at least 12 people have been killed since Wednesday in clashes, a number that includes members of the security forces.
Monitors Document Widespread Unrest
The US-based Human Rights Activists News Agency (HRANA) said that over the past seven days protests were recorded in at least 174 locations across 60 cities in 25 of Iran's 31 provinces. HRANA reported at least 582 arrests during that period and said at least 15 protesters had been killed; these figures could not be independently confirmed.
Background and Context
The demonstrations began last week when merchants shut down the influential Tehran bazaar in protest. The action spread rapidly to other regions and to university campuses, and has been fuelled by anger over rising living costs across the Islamic Republic.
International Response and Verification Caveats
UN special rapporteur on human rights in Iran, Mai Sato, warned that "reports indicate growing confrontation between protesters and security forces" and said the violent response seen during the 2022-2023 unrest "must not be repeated." Independent verification of casualty figures and footage remains limited amid restricted access and conflicting accounts.
Note: This article reflects claims by rights groups and official statements. Where possible, we attribute figures to the reporting organisations and note when material could not be independently verified.
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