1,500 protesters killed during Iran Uprising, 29 women confirmed dead

The Secretariat of the National Council of Resistance of Iran issued a statement on December 15, 2019, confirming that over 1,500 protesters have been killed during the Iran protests in November across the country.

The Iranian Resistance has compiled information on the deaths of at least 400 in Tehran, 320 in Kermanshah, 270 in Fars, 240 in Khuzestan, 120 in Isfahan, and 100 in Alborz (Karaj). According to eyewitnesses, hundreds of bodies were taken to Namazi Hospital in Shiraz during the uprising. This information has not been accounted for in the death toll compiled by the Iranian Resistance and is being investigated.

The People’s Mojahedin Organization of Iran (PMOI/MEK) also released the names of 28 more martyrs of the uprising, bringing to 504 the number of those killed in 56 cities identified by name among the estimated 1,500 protesters.

The Women’s Committee of the National Council of Resistance of Iran has compiled information and eyewitness reports on the deaths of at least 29 women, so far. These include at least four women with children, and three teenage girls. More details about the rest of the martyred women is being investigated.

The Iranian regime has remained silent and is trying to conceal the facts. The suppressive forces refuse to hand over the bodies of those killed to their families. Many of those martyred were snatched from hospitals or streets and buried in unknown locations.

Call on the UN, international community to take urgent action

Upon the announcement of the Iranian regime’s killing of at least 1,500 protesters during Iran protests, Mrs. Maryam Rajavi, the President-elect of the National Council of Resistance of Iran (NCRI), said the regime still refuses to hand over the bodies of the martyrs and brazenly demands their families pay for the bullets with which it murdered their children. This shocking crime is undoubtedly one of the most horrific crimes of the 21st century and by any measure amounts to a manifest case of crimes against humanity, she noted, underscoring that the international community must banish the religious fascism ruling Iran.

Mrs. Rajavi called on the United Nations Security Council and the European Union to take urgent action to stop the crackdown in Iran and crime against humanity and secure the release of those arrested. She again urged the UN to establish an international fact-finding mission to investigate this major crime and visit the regime’s prisons and the prisoners.

Amnesty International also issued a statement on December 16, 2019, confirming thousands of arbitrary detentions including of children as young as 15, and subjecting them to enforced disappearance and torture.

“Iran’s authorities are carrying out a vicious crackdown following the outbreak of nationwide protests on 15 November, arresting thousands of protesters as well as journalists, human rights defenders and students to stop them from speaking out about Iran’s ruthless repression,” said Amnesty International.

“Harrowing testimony from eyewitnesses suggests that, almost immediately after the Iranian authorities massacred hundreds of those participating in nationwide protests, they went on to orchestrate a wide-scale clampdown designed to instill fear and prevent anyone from speaking out about what happened,” said Philip Luther, Middle East and North Africa Research Director at Amnesty International.

AI also wrote, “Video footage verified by Amnesty’s Digital Verification Corps, backed up by witness testimony, shows Iranian security forces opening fire on unarmed protesters who did not pose any imminent risk. The majority of the deaths that the organization has recorded occurred as a result of gunshots to the head, heart, neck and other vital organs indicating that the security forces were shooting to kill.”

“The international community must take urgent action, including through the UN Human Rights Council holding a special session on Iran to mandate an inquiry into the unlawful killings of protesters, horrifying wave of arrests, enforced disappearances and torture of detainees, with a view to ensuring accountability.”

The names and reports related to the 29 martyred women

1.Ameneh Shahbazifard, 34 and mother of three – Karaj, Alborz

3.Azar Mirzapour Zahabi, nurse and mother of four – Karaj, Alborz

5.Golnar Samsami, 34 and mother of an 8-year-old boy – Shahriar, Tehran

11.Mina Sheikhi – 59 and mother of six – Tehran

21.A 13-year-old girl shot in the head – Behbahan, Khuzestan – eyewitness report

22.A female high school student shot by helicopter – Shiraz, Fars – eyewitness report

23.A female student from Saqqez – Sanandaj, Kurdistan – eyewitness report

24.A nurse in a hospital – Tehran – admission by Friday prayer leader of Asalem

25.A pregnant woman – Mahshahr, Khuzestan – eyewitness report

26.A pregnant woman – Saveh, Central – documented by video clip

27.A woman – Mahshahr, Khuzestan – eyewitness report

28.A young woman – Shahriar, Tehran – eyewitness report

29.An unidentified woman – Rasht, Gilan – eyewitness report