Iran: Over 500 Dead in Protests, Activist Groups Say

According to the US-based human rights advocacy group HRANA, the death toll in protests in Iran has exceeded 500. The latest count, based on reports from activists inside and outside Iran, lists 490 protesters and 48 security forces dead, as well as over 10,000 arrests. This information has not been independently verified, and Iranian authorities have not released official figures for the deaths. Authorities have characterized the protests as “riots” fueled by foreign powers. HRANA is a group based in the United States that monitors the human rights situation in Iran. The group’s announcement highlights the escalation of violence and growing concern for the human rights situation in Iran. The lack of transparent information from Iranian authorities makes independent verification of the figures difficult, but HRANA’s report provides an important picture of the seriousness of the situation.