Iran: Protesters flee from gunfire in the city of Mahabad

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Iranian protesters have been filmed fleeing from a protest in the northwestern city of Mahabad after Iran’s special forces, stationed on the roofs of surrounding buildings, opened fire on the crowds, according to eyewitness reports. The protesters, who had been throwing bricks and heavy objects at public buildings, could be seen running desperately away from the gunfire as the crowds began to panic.

More than 250 protesters have been killed in the last month by security officials, according to the latest figures, and three more are believed to have been killed during the gathering in Mahabad on Thursday.

Roughly 20,000 protesters marched on one of the city’s police stations after attending a funeral for Ismail Mauludi, a 35-year-old protester killed on Wednesday night, according to the Hengaw Organisation for Human Rights.  

In the footage, hundreds of Iranian protesters are seen gathered in the Gomrok neighbourhood of Mahabad, less than 100 kilometres from the border with Iraq. 

The protesters appear to be throwing heavy objects and bricks at public buildings, including a local police station, when a loud bang can be heard in the background, followed by gunfire. 

The protesters duck for cover before they start to flee in their masses. The gunfire can then be heard more frequently. 

Smoke bombs, believed to contain tear gas, appeared on the streets as the protesters, fearing that they could be killed, run for their lives. 

At least three individuals, named Kubra ShekhSaqa, 55, who was a resident of the city, Zaniar AbuBakri and Shaho Khzri, are believed to have been killed by the direct fire from Iranian regime forces.

The protesters, after attending the burial service of Ismail Moloudi, commonly known as Samko, descended on the city, occupying multiple government buildings, including the administration, finance, relief committee, police, and a few banks.

Additionally, the Islamic Republic of Iran Broadcasting (IRIB) facility and this city’s Police Station 11 were surrounded by people.

As they breached the buildings, the protesters were heard chanting: “We should not mourn for our youth, we should avenge them”. 

Government forces reportedly then employed war weapons and tear gas extensively to dispel the crowds. 

One of the protesters, a young Kurdish man, was killed after he was reportedly “shot in the forehead” by Iran’s security forces. 

“A young Kurdish man was killed by direct fire from Iranian security forces,” Hengaw, a Norway-based group, said on Twitter. “This young man was shot in the forehead.”

It was the latest incident in weeks of national protests, sparked by the death of 22-year-old Mahsa Amini. 

The young women died in the custody of the Iranian morality police after being arrested for failing to abide by the strict code on Islamic dress. She was accused of wearing too “loosely” her hijab headdress. 

The demonstrations have become one of the boldest challenges to the clerical leadership since the 1979 revolution, drawing many Iranians into the streets, with some calling for the downfall of the Islamic Republic and the death of Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei.

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The Human Rights News Agency (HRANA) said in its most recent post that at least 252 protesters have been killed in the unrest, including 36 children.

Iranian human rights groups also said there were unconfirmed reports that some members of Ms Amini’s family are under house arrest. 

It said 30 members of the security forces have been killed and more than 13,800 people had been arrested as of Wednesday in protests in 122 cities and towns and some 109 universities.

The authorities, who have accused the United States and other Western countries of fomenting what they call “riots”, have yet to declare a death toll. 

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