NEWS CENTRE - HRANA Of those who lost their lives in Iran and Rojhilat, 5,777 were protesters, 86 were children, 214 were security personnel and 49 were civilian citizens. The organisation also reported that 17,091 more possible deaths are being investigated.

 

The toll of state violence against mass protests that began at the beginning of the month in Iran and Rojhilat is mounting. Human rights organisations state that the number of those who lost their lives during the demonstrations is much higher than official figures. The US-based Human Rights Activists News Agency (HRANA) announced that it had confirmed that at least 6,126 people had lost their lives in the protests. 

 

41,000 people detained

 

According to HRANA, 5,777 of those who lost their lives were protesters, 86 were children, 214 were security personnel and 49 were civilian citizens. The organisation also reported that 17,091 more possible deaths are being investigated. According to the same report, at least 41,880 people were detained in connection with the protests. Human rights defenders claim that even the injured were detained from hospitals, while the Iranian Ministry of Health denied these allegations, arguing that access to hospitals was unrestricted.

 

3,177 people lost their lives

 

In its first comprehensive statement last week, the Iranian government claimed that a total of 3,117 people had lost their lives, most of whom were security personnel and ‘civilians not involved in the events.’ In contrast, the opposition Iran International channel, which broadcasts from abroad, claimed in a report based on leaked documents and security sources that the death toll had exceeded 36,500. 

 

The Norway-based Iran Human Rights (IHR) organisation stated that at least 3,428 protesters had lost their lives, but that the actual number could be over 25,000.

 

It is emphasised that, due to the internet being largely cut off since 8 January, it is difficult to ascertain the situation, particularly in Rojhilat, and that the actual toll could be much higher than the figures announced.