DUBAI: Many Iranians widely refer to Friday, September 30th as “Bloody Friday” after Iranian security forces cracked down on violence and unlawfully killed 66 Balochi protesters who were demonstrating the death of Mahsa Amini.
Following the death of 22-year-old Amini, who reportedly died in custody after being arrested by Iran’s “Moral” police, September 30 marked Amnesty’s deadliest day on record since protests began in Iran, according to a report International on Friday.
According to the report, Iranian security forces unlawfully killed at least 66 people, including children, and injured hundreds more after firing live ammunition, metal pellets and tear gas at protesters, bystanders and worshipers after Friday prayers.
Since then, another 16 people have been killed in separate incidents in Zahedan as protests continued to be crushed.
Agnes Callamard, Secretary-General of Amnesty International, said the Iranian authorities have repeatedly shown total disregard for the sanctity of human life and will stop at nothing to retain power.
“The callous violence being unleashed by the Iranian security forces is not taking place in a vacuum. It is the result of systematic impunity and a lackluster response from the international community,” she added.
Evidence collected by Amnesty International shows that the majority of the victims were shot in the head, heart, neck and torso, revealing a clear intent to kill or seriously injure.
In line with their previous pattern of denial and cover-up, authorities understated the death toll and announced that 19 people, including bystanders and several members of the security forces, were killed during protests in Zahedan on Sept. 30, according to Amnesty’s report .
In an attempt to absolve themselves of responsibility for the deaths, authorities have shared false narratives blaming “terrorists,” “rioters,” and “separatists” for the deaths, which they claim were caused by foreign governments acted.
Propaganda videos broadcast by state media after September 30 showed detainees with bags over their heads, whom the authorities claim were involved in armed attacks on security forces in Zahedan.
Authorities have claimed the protesters looted and set fire to public property.
Protests in Zahedan, Sistan and Balochistan province, populated by the long-oppressed Baluch ethnic minority, were scheduled to take place after Friday prayers on September 30 to show solidarity with nationwide protests and accountability for the reported rape of a 15-year-old girl -year-old girl demands from a provincial police commander.
