By- Paramita Datta
In a violent crackdown in Iran, more than 2,000 people, including children, have died, confirmed an Iranian official. Within a span of 17 days, regardless of internet blackout, a total of 17 children, 135 affiliated people to the government, and 9 uninvolved civilians were also there. U.S President Donald Trump has promised Iranians to help as he mentioned “Help is on its way”.
An Iranian official, while speaking to Reuters, mentioned “terrorists” were behind the deadly occurrence. However, the agency didn’t reveal the person.
A US-based activist group (Human Rights Activist Agency) had earlier confirmed hundreds of people were killed, and thousands had been arrested during the nationwide protests.
The initial phase of the situation started in the last week of December due to the economic situation in the country, but soon turned out to be an assembly against the theocratic rule led by Supreme Leader Ayatollah Khamenei and Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian.
Last Thursday the protests became much more intense and were met with deadly action by authorities. This happened while the internet and communication services were almost completely shut down.
Deputy Director Skylar Thompson told the Associated Press that they were shocked, but still believe the figure is on the lower side. Another organisation, Iran Human Rights (IHR), Norway- based, has said it had confirmed that at least 734 protesters were killed.
Its director, Mahmood Amiry-Moghaddam, told the AFP news agency that this number was based on information from fewer than half of Iran’s provinces and less than 10% of the country’s hospitals. He added that the actual number of people killed is likely much higher and could be in the thousands.
Iran’s clerical leadership, which has been in power since the 1979 Islamic Revolution, has taken a two-sided approach toward the protests and responded accordingly. While authorities have said that protests over economic problems are valid, they have at the same time carried out a strict crackdown on demonstrators. Iranian officials have also accused the United States and Israel of stirring the unrest, besides the terrorist claim.