US condemns violent crackdown on peaceful protests in Iran
The US State Department spokesperson issued a statement calling the protest against the current situation in Iran a "right" of the people of the country and announced that the United States condemns the use of violence by security forces to suppress peaceful protesters.
"The protests in Iran began in Khuzestan province over water shortages—a result of drought, mismanagement, and government indifference—and have now spread to other cities, including Tehran, Karaj, and Tabriz," US State Department spokesman Ned Price wrote in a statement released on Wednesday, July 28.
He stated that the Iranian people “have now addressed not only their unmet needs, but also their unfulfilled aspirations for respect for human rights, rights that people around the world enjoy.”
Public gatherings in Khuzestan began about two weeks ago to protest against water shortages and mismanagement by officials, and have since spread to other cities. So far, at least nine people, including two teenagers, have been confirmed dead during the protests. Dozens have also been arrested.
Emphasizing the right of the Iranian people to express their dissatisfaction and hold their government accountable, Ned Price noted that the United States has "witnessed disturbing reports of security forces firing on protesters, resulting in the deaths of several people."
The US State Department official stated in his statement that the United States “supports the right of Iranians to peacefully assemble and express their views without fear of violence or detention by security forces.”
He added that the United States is also monitoring reports of internet disruptions in the region.
The statement calls on the government of the Islamic Republic to allow its citizens to enjoy the right to freedom of expression and free access to information, including through the Internet.
Images and videos posted on social media from protests in Khuzestan and other cities show people chanting slogans against government officials and expressing support for Khuzestan. Some images, said to be related to the protest rally in Baharestan, Isfahan, on Tuesday night (July 27), show a large banner with a picture of Ali Khamenei, the leader of the Islamic Republic, being set on fire.
Meanwhile, reports indicate that security measures have been tightened in various cities in Khuzestan province and that internet speeds are slow in the region.
Previously, Michelle Bachelet, the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights, had also expressed concern about the widespread arrests, security forces shooting at protesters, and the killing and injury of a number of protesters in the Khuzestan protests.
He called on the Islamic Republic's authorities to consider "the impact of the devastating water crisis on the lives, health, and prosperity of the people of Khuzestan" instead of suppressing popular protests.
Source: DW
