A academics’ union in Iran has introduced two days of public mourning over the “unjustly shed blood of justice seekers and the heinous killing of Iranian college students.”

The Coordinating Council of Academics Syndicates stated in a assertion on October 20 that, in the course of the “systematic repression” of current anti-government protests, authorities have “up to now taken the pricey lives of numerous college students and kids in probably the most brutal method.”

The council had beforehand confirmed in a put up on Telegram that 16-year-old Asra Panahi died following a raid by safety forces on a women’ highschool in Ardabil on October 13.

Based on the council, Panahi died after Ardabil metropolis officers took college students from a highschool to a pro-government demonstration and requested them to sing an anthem that praises Supreme Chief Ayatollah Ali Khamenei.

After the pupils resisted, the safety forces attacked the scholars and beat a lot of them. Ten had been taken to an unknown location, whereas seven others had been injured. Panahi reportedly died in a hospital on October 14.

Iran has been roiled by unrest — one of many deepest challenges to the Islamic regime for the reason that revolution in 1979 — for the reason that September 16 dying of 22-year-old Mahsa Amini whereas in police custody for allegedly carrying a hijab, or head scarf, improperly.

The federal government has launched a collection of raids on faculties throughout the nation, violently arresting college students, particularly feminine college students. It has additionally held a number of counterrallies to attempt to quell the dissent however to little impact as individuals proceed to take to the streets throughout the nation.

In an additional signal of the crackdown, Atena Daemi, a civil activist, reported {that a} group of males from Evin jail was despatched to the high-security Khorin jail in east Tehran. Based on Daemi, this jail is called the Slaughterhouse.

The lads had been transferred after a hearth broke out over the weekend at Evin jail amid stories of an rebellion.

Sources informed Reuters that, two days earlier than the hearth, which killed a minimum of eight individuals, a riot police unit arrived on the compound and started to patrol the corridors shouting “God is best” and banging batons on cell doorways.

These sources stated that the presence of the police started with none apparent provocation, and when the prisoners reacted to the habits of the guards, their assault started.

State media initially reported eight inmates had died of smoke inhalation and 61 others had been injured.

Lawyer Mustafa Nili stated in a tweet on October 19 that Evin jail officers prevented Mohammad Khani, a political prisoner who was shot in the course of the clashes, from being transferred to the hospital.

In the meantime, protestors in varied Iranian cities, together with in Saveh, Kamyaran, Bukan, Arak, Tehran, and Dehgolan, continued their protests.

Movies revealed on social networks present college students in western Iranian metropolis of Sanandaj rallying on October 19, with chants of “Dying to the Dictator,” a reference to Khamenei.

Written by Ardeshir Tayebi primarily based on an unique story in Persian by RFE/RL’s Radio Farda.