World leaders on Saturday condemned the killings and arrests of protesters in Iran, as authorities come under threat. In a joint statement, the foreign ministers of Australia, Canada and the European Union praised the heroism displayed by Iran’s citizens and condemned the alleged crackdown by the regime.
“We applaud the bravery of the Iranian people as they stand up for their dignity and their fundamental right to peacefully protest. We strongly condemn the Iranian regime’s killing of protesters, use of violence, arbitrary arrests and intimidation tactics against its own people,” the statement said.
These countries called on the Iranian government to stop using aggressive force against protesters and to preserve their right to freedom of expression.
The statement said, “Iran must immediately end the use of excessive and deadly force by its security forces, including the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) and Basij, against protesters. More than 40 people have lost their lives so far. The Iranian regime has a responsibility to protect its population and must allow freedom of expression and peaceful assembly without fear of reprisals.”
Meanwhile, Israeli experts say the situation has reached a turning point and could deteriorate and even become a threat to the regime, Mako Israel reported.
According to Mako, more than one million people have taken to the streets in Iran and the protests have spread to many areas. There are also indications that the Revolutionary Guards have begun to suppress the demonstrations.
Additionally, Time magazine quoted an Iranian doctor, who spoke on condition of anonymity, as saying that just six hospitals in the capital Tehran have recorded the deaths of at least 217 protesters, “the majority of whom died from gunfire.”
Masih Alinejad, a well-known Iranian journalist and activist, posted a video he received from Iranians through Starlink, saying, “It has been more than 24 hours since Iran’s dictator shut down the Internet connections of 90 million Iranians. The Internet is the lifeline of the ongoing rebellion in Iran, and by providing Starlink services to Iranian revolutionaries, Elon Musk has made an important and indispensable contribution to the fight for democracy in Iran.”
Among those supporting the protesters is exiled Iranian Crown Prince Reza Pahlavi, who has called on people to work together to deliver a final blow to the regime.
“I have a message for Iranians in the diaspora. You can play an important role during this time. What is most important is that you continue to protest in your own countries and major cities, and share information with political, government, and media organizations. Contact them by phone or email. Continuing this coverage of Iran will ensure that Iranians are our priority and are not forgotten,” he said in a video message on Twitter.
It said, “We must not allow this voice to be silenced internationally. They must know that the people of Iran, despite all the sanctions imposed on them, continue to fight with extraordinary courage. And the people inside Iran will see that you are working closely with them and that will energize them. Let us all come together at this time to deliver the final blow to the regime, achieve freedom and rebuild our country.”
This incident occurred after US President Donald Trump’s statement in which he said that the situation in Iran is being closely monitored. Trump warned that if protesters were killed the US would intervene and hit Iran where it would hurt most.
Protests in Iran entered their thirteenth day on Friday. What started as a protest over the rising cost of living has now transformed into a demand for the end of the current regime that has been ruling Iran since the 1979 Islamic Revolution. This revolution ousted the pro-Western Shah from power.
Internet freedom monitor NetBlocks documented the regime-imposed internet restrictions and said on Friday, “It has now been 24 hours since the nationwide internet shutdown in Iran, and connectivity is frozen at 1% of normal levels. This ongoing digital blackout violates Iranians’ fundamental rights and freedoms and conceals the regime’s violence.”
