Iran: At least 35 dead after more than a week of protests (state media)

UPDATE DAY

At least 35 people have been killed in violent protests sparked in Iran for more than a week after the death of a young woman arrested by vice squad, state media said on Saturday .  

Mahsa Amini, 22, was arrested on September 13 in Tehran for “wearing inappropriate clothes” by police tasked with enforcing the Republic's strict dress code Islamic. 

She died three days later in hospital, and her death sparked nightly protests in major cities across Iran, including the capital Tehran. 

“State TV reported Friday evening that the number of people who died in the recent riots in the country rose to 35 people,” said Borna News, the news agency linked to the Iranian Ministry of Sports.  

On Thursday, state television reported the death of 17 people during these demonstrations, while the authorities deny any involvement in the violence. 

In the Islamic Republic, women must cover their hair and are not allowed to wear short or tight coats or jeans with holes. 

On Friday evening, the Minister of the Interior, Ahmad Vahidi, again asserted that Mahsa Amini was not beaten by law enforcement. 

“Reports from monitoring bodies have been received, witnesses have been interviewed, videos were examined, forensic opinions were obtained and it was found that there had been no beatings” inflicted on the young woman, Vahidi told television, quoted by the media. locals. 

According to him, the Iranian government is investigating “the cause of Mahsa Amini's death [but] we have to wait for the final opinion of the medical examiner, which takes time”.  ;

Mr. Vahidi further criticized “those who have taken irresponsible positions, […] and incited violence”, accusing them of “following the United States, European countries and anti-revolutionary groups”.