Human Rights Watch "Serious Concern" Over Government Response to Protests in Khuzestan; 9 Killed in Protests

In a new statement on Thursday, Human Rights Watch reported the deaths of nine people as a result of government violence against protesters in Khuzestan, and expressed "serious concern" about the response of the Islamic Republic authorities to these recent protests.

In its statement released on Thursday night, August 27, the human rights organization said that the increasing number of victims of repression, as well as mass arrests, is a cause for serious concern.

The organization also called on the Islamic Republic authorities to "immediately and unconditionally" release all detainees, provide information on the number and manner of death of victims of the crackdown, and allow an independent international investigation into the government's violent response.

Over the past two weeks, widespread protests have taken place in Khuzestan, focusing on the problem of water shortages, which security forces have violently responded to. In the meantime, the Islamic Republic has cut off the internet in Khuzestan, and reports indicate that “hundreds” of people have been arrested.

There is still no exact figure on the number of people killed, injured, and arrested. According to official state media, four protesters and one police officer have been killed so far. Amnesty International also said that at least eight people have died in these protests.

Now, Human Rights Watch, in its new statement, relying on human rights groups, says that the deaths of at least nine people, including a 17-year-old boy, have been confirmed in the protests in Khuzestan and Lorestan.

On the other hand, the human rights website HRANA announced on August 21 that it had verified the identities of 102 people arrested in the Khuzestan protests.

Previously, Amnesty International's Deputy Director for the Middle East and North Africa described the use of live ammunition against unarmed protesters as a serious threat to their lives and a serious violation of the Islamic Republic's obligations to protect human life.

So far, many domestic and international human rights, political, and cultural figures and institutions have condemned the actions of military and security forces against protesters in Khuzestan and have called for addressing the protesters' demands regarding water shortage problems in this province.

Source: Radio Farda