Iran Announces Protest Casualty Figures for the First Time, Discrepancies with Activists' Estimates
Iranian authorities have disclosed official figures for the first time regarding the number of casualties resulting from the forceful suppression of mass protests across the country. According to figures provided by the Ministry of Interior and the Foundation for Martyrs and Veterans Affairs on state television, the number of casualties is reported to be 3,117. This was reported by podrobno.uzreports.
The report states that 2,427 of the casualties were civilians and security personnel. No additional details were provided for the remaining 690 casualties.
The official statistics are significantly lower than the figures announced by foreign human rights activists and organizations. As a result, they accuse the government of downplaying the scale of the tragedy. Despite the release of these numbers, trust in the official data remains low, and debates over the death toll continue.
Previously, international media, citing various sources, mentioned the number of casualties ranging from hundreds to between 12,000 and 20,000. Today, the HRANA human rights organization stated that at least 4,902 people have died, suggesting the actual figure could be even higher.
The official statement comes as Iran's theocracy attempts to restore order following a wave of protests. While officials are trying to show that the situation is under control, domestic discontent and external criticism persist.
The protests began amid public outrage following a series of events and quickly spread across the country. The government's response through security forces led to clashes, resulting in numerous deaths.
The release of the first official casualty report was a significant step for the government, but it highlighted the discrepancies with international assessments even more clearly.
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