ERBIL - Amnesty International has revealed that over 100 Iranian protesters have so far been killed during clashes with the security forces across the country.
"Verified video footage, eyewitness testimony from people on the ground and information gathered from human rights activists outside Iran reveal a harrowing pattern of unlawful killings by Iranian security forces, which have used excessive and lethal force to crush largely peaceful protests in more than 100 cities across Iran," said Amnesty International on Tuesday.
"At least 106 protesters in 21 cities have been killed, according to credible reports received by Amnesty International."
It further pointed out that the organization believes that the "real death toll may be much higher, with some reports suggesting as many as 200 to have been killed," while state media has said only a handful of protesters were killed.
Amnesty International also added that the Iranian security forces "must" exercise restraint towards the demonstrators who have been taking to the streets against the dramatic increase in the petrol price since Friday night.
"The authorities must end this brutal and deadly crackdown immediately and show respect for human life,” said Philip Luther, Research and Advocacy Director for the Middle East and North Africa at Amnesty International.
"The frequency and persistence of lethal force used against peaceful protesters in these and previous mass protests, as well as the systematic impunity for security forces who kill protesters, raise serious fears that the intentional lethal use of firearms is to crush protests."
