CNN
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Iranian security forces have killed at least 326 people since nationwide protests broke out two months ago, the Norway-based group Iran Human Rights NGO (IHRNGO) has announced.
That number includes 43 children and 25 women, the group said in an update on the death toll on Saturday – saying its published figure represents the “absolute minimum”.
CNN was unable to independently verify this number as non-state media, internet and protest movements in Iran have all been suppressed. The death toll varies according to opposition groups, international human rights organizations and journalists covering the ongoing protests.
Iran is facing one of the largest and most dissident programs ever following the death of Mahsa AminiA 22-year-old Iranian-Kurdish woman was detained by the ethics police for allegedly not wearing the hijab properly.
Public anger over her death has been compounded by a many grievances against the Islamic Republic’s oppressive regime to fuel the protests, which continued despite lawmakers urging the country’s judiciary to have “zero tolerance” for protesters.
Despite threats of arrest – and harsher punishment for those involved – Iranian celebrities and athlete has continued to support anti-government protests in recent weeks.
IHRNGO has called on the international community to take “resolute and timely action” on the growing death toll and reiterated the need to establish a mechanism to “hold the Islamic Republic government responsible for their flagrant human rights violations”.
IHRNGO Director Mahmood Amiry-Moghaddam said: “The establishment of an international investigation and accountability mechanism by the UN will facilitate the process of holding perpetrators accountable in the future and increasing the costs of the Islamic Republic’s continued persecution”.
According to IHRNGO, since the beginning of the protests, the death toll has been recorded across 22 provinces. Most are reported in the provinces of Sistan and Baluchistan, Tehran, Mazandaran, Kurdistan and Gilan.
The Iranian government has also charged at least 1,000 people in Tehran province for allegedly participating in the protests.
The human rights group said dozens of protesters were facing “security-related charges” and were at risk of execution.
On Friday, UN experts called on Iranian authorities to “stop prosecuting people with crimes that carry the death penalty for participating in or accused of participating in peaceful protests” and “stop using the death penalty as a tool to suppress protests.”
