BERLIN/DUBAI (Reuters) – Some 80,000 people, according to police, demonstrated in Berlin on Saturday in support of the protest movement in Iran, which entered its sixth week despite a fierce crackdown by the authorities.
The death of a young Iranian Kurd, Mahsa Amini, 22, at the hands of vice police on September 16 in Tehran sparked a wave of protests in the Islamic Republic.
According to human rights organizations, some 200 people, including minors, have been killed by Iranian security forces since the start of the movement. State television reported 26 deaths in the ranks of the security forces.
In Berlin, the demonstrators waved Iranian flags and banners on which one could read: “Women Life Freedom”. According to the organizers of the rally, Iranians had traveled especially from the United States, Canada and several countries of the European Union to participate in this show of force described as unprecedented.
“Death to Khameini”, could be heard among the slogans against the regime in Tehran. Ali Khameini has been the Supreme Leader of the Revolution since 1989, the highest post in the Islamic Republic.
According to videos posted on social networks, the demonstrations continue in several cities of Iran, including Tehran, Mashhad, Mahabad (north-west) and in several universities of the country. Reuters has not been able to verify the accuracy of these images.
A video shows protesters lighting fires in the streets of Lalehzar district, Tehran. Another shows protesters chanting “Death to the dictator” in Mashhad, in the northeast.
(Report Dubai office, with Victoria Waldersee, Leon Malherbe and Oliver Denzer in Berlin; written by Tom Perry; French version Sophie Louet)
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