Thousands of angry Iranians hold protests to mark 'Bloody Friday'
Hundreds of protestors in Iran were seen taking to the streets after the Friday prayers in southeastern Sistan-Baluchistan province to mark a September 30 crackdown by armed forces called "Bloody Friday." Numerous photos and video clips on social media showed men appearing from mosques while vocalizing the slogan "Death to Khamenei," which refers to Ayatollah Ali Khamenei- the Supreme Leader of the Islamic Republic.
Watch: Angry protesters chanting "death to khamenei"
Lives lost on 'Bloody Friday'
As per reports, over 82 people died during the September 30 crackdown by Iranian security forces on the demonstrations in Sistan-Baluchistan. This part is widely known for being one of the poorest and biggest in Iran and is home to an ethnic Sunni Muslim minority. More than 16 lost their lives last week in Khash, another Sistan-Baluchistan city, as per The Wall Street Journal.
UN human rights experts react to 'Bloody Friday'
On Friday, human rights experts of the United Nations (UN) asked the Iranian authorities in a statement to put an end to indicting people with charges punishable by death for taking part in the demonstrations. The experts also stated that they were particularly concerned about girls and women being disproportionately targeted for being at the front of the protests.
Watch: Video of people paying homage
Global condemnation
The brutal response of Tehran to the demonstrations has attracted more international condemnation as well, with the European Union (EU) reportedly set to discuss new sanctions against Iran next week. Annalena Baerbock, Foreign Minister of Germany, was quoted as saying: "it is our European understanding that observance of universal human rights is not a national matter, but a universal matter."
Nationwide protest against Khamenei
Anti-government protests erupted back in September in the country after a Kurdish woman's death, Mahsa Amini, who got detained by the morality police for reportedly defying the Islamic Republic's dress code for women. Since then, the protest turned into a nationwide revolt, with people from all over the country participating with fury directed mainly towards Supreme Leader Khamenei.
