Published: Less than 20 min ago
Security forces have clashed with protesters in Mahsa Zhina Amini’s hometown of Saqqez, according to testimony relayed by a human rights group.
“Security forces have fired tear gas and opened fire on people in Zindan square in Saqqez,” writes the Norway-based group Hengaw on Twitter.
The memory of the slain protester Mahsa Zhina Amini is being commemorated in Saqqez and many other Iranian cities and towns on Wednesday. It has then been 40 days since the 22-year-old died in prison after being arrested by Iran’s morality police, which was followed by the biggest protests to take place in Iran in a very long time.
In Shia Islam, mourning for a deceased person traditionally resumes after 40 days.
In Saqqez, crowds of people have marched through the city shouting “Death to the dictator”, referring to Iran’s Ayatollah, and gathered around Mahsa Zhina Amini’s grave.
Protests broke out already on Tuesday, despite the authorities’ heavy crackdown on the opposition. Then, among others, students in Tehran took to the streets. On Wednesday, several universities were closed, according to state media, to stop the “spread of influenza”.