The ongoing anti-government protests in Iran have taken a more serious and violent turn. Security forces opened fire on protesters after Friday prayers in the southeastern city of Zahedan on Friday.
Baloch human rights group Halbash said many people were injured. According to eyewitnesses, the firing was carried out around the Makki Mosque to disperse peaceful protests.
On the same day, there were also reports of large-scale protests in the northeastern city of Mashhad, with thousands of people reportedly gathering on Vakilabad Boulevard. Earlier, there were allegations that surveillance cameras in the area had been disabled, but this could not be independently verified.
Meanwhile, a public prosecutor and several security personnel were killed in violence in the city of Esfahan in North Khorasan province. The judiciary said rescue efforts were hampered when protesters set fire to a trailer during the unrest. An investigation has been launched to identify those involved in the incident.
Human rights group HRANA says at least 42 people have been killed since the protests began, including 34 protesters, and more than 2,000 people have been arrested across the country.
Although tight security has been imposed to suppress the movement, which began against the economic crisis, rising commodity prices, and government policies, the protesters are reluctant to leave the streets despite the violence and loss of life, which is making the situation even more uncertain.