Iran Says 24 Members of Security Forces Killed in Widespread Protests

At least 24 members of Iran's police, Basij militia and the Islamic Revolution Guards Corps (IRGC) have been killed in recent unrest in the country, which broke out after the death of Mahsa Amini in morality police custody on September 16.

"They are ordinary people who have a presence on the streets empty-handed and without combat weapons to protect the security of residents and Islamic Iran against rioting and destruction," Iran’s Aftab News reported on October 10.

The report added that none of fallen servicemen had been carrying guns during their mission to disperse and arrest the rioters.

Police Deputy Commander Qasem Rezai told reporters that 2,000 officers had been injured in the recent riots and denied reports that the security forces were behind the deaths of protesters, and suggested that they were killed by "infiltrators".

According to the Norwegian-based Iran Human Rights organisation, a total of 201 people have been killed in the unrest so far.

The protests have been accompanied by widespread arrests. Most of the recent protests were hosted at schools and universities and women and girls in Iran and abroad have been removing and burning their headscarves in solidarity with the protestors, while others have cut their hair to show support.

Protests occurred in at least 16 cities across 11 different provinces on October 11. Iranian security forces are continuing to suppress protests, particularly in the Kurdistan Province. Meanwhile, anti-regime groups have called for demonstrations on October 12 and 13.

Iranian Judiciary Spokesman Massoud Setayeshi said on October 11 that 1,700 people who were arrested in recent riots had been freed following investigations.

He said the judiciary distinguished between those who instigated the riots with foreign help and those protesters who "acted emotionally" with no criminal motive.

Against the background of protests, Iranian government spokesman Ali Bahadori Jahromi said that the state is working towards the better provision of spaces for organised and legal public protests.

The Interior Ministry had been tasked with making new proposals for organising protests, Jahromi added.

Meanwhile, Iran's Interior Minister Ahmad Vahidi said that "counter-revolutionary terrorist" groups have planned and supported the recent "riots" in Iran, and blamed the protests for undermining security and economic development in the Kurdish region.

On October 3, Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei accused Iran's "enemies" of using Amini's death as a "pretext to cause insecurity and chaos" in the country.