New Delhi, Jan 9: Massive crowds of protesters marched through Tehran and several other Iranian cities in what appears to be the largest show of opposition to the clerical establishment in years, reports BBC and other International media. The protests marked the 12th consecutive day of unrest triggered by anger over the collapse of Iran’s currency, spreading to more than 100 cities across all 31 provinces. Human rights groups say dozens of protesters, including children, have been killed and thousands arrested, though casualty figures vary.
Protest demonstrations were also reported in the capital and in Mashhad on Thursday evening, with protesters chanting slogans against Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei and calling for the return of Reza Pahlavi, the exiled son of Iran’s former shah, reports BBC.
Later, a monitoring group reported a nationwide internet blackout. Videos verified by BBC Persian showed large crowds chanting anti-government slogans in cities including Mashhad, Tehran, Isfahan, Tabriz and Dezful, where security forces were seen opening fire. Exiled opposition figure Reza Pahlavi called the protests a nationwide demand for freedom and urged demonstrators to continue. Iranian state media played down the scale of the unrest, while authorities have not commented on the reported internet shutdown. The protests are the most widespread since the 2022 demonstrations sparked by the death of Mahsa Amini in police custody.
