Police Open Fire on Protesters in Kurdish Towns

Protests have been taking place in numerous Iranian cities, including the capital Tehran, Sanandaj and Kermanshah this evening, and police opened fire at protesters in at least two Kurdish towns.

Videos circulating on social networks showed young people in Sanandaj's Hassanabad district setting fires in the streets and chanting slogans against the Islamic Republic. 

In Tehran residents expressed their dissent by chanting “Death to the dictator!” and “Death to Khamenei!” from their homes.

🎥 بر اساس ویدیوی منتشر شده توسط سازمان هه‌نگاو، معترضان در سنندج و در شامگاه ۲۵ شهریور با روشن کردن آتش در محله حسن‌آباد سنندج دست به اقدام اعتراضی زده‌اند.#سالگرد_مهسا #شهروندخبرنگار #مهسا_امینی #اعتراضات_سراسری #اطلاع_رسانی pic.twitter.com/0WyPNKlqKG

— ایران وایر (@iranwire) September 16, 2023

In the Ekbatan town of the capital there was a significant military presence, accompanied by constant patrols of the town’s streets by motorcycle troops.

A video from Tehran’s Shariati Street features a young boy and girl protesting by climbing onto a height and inviting their fellow citizens to join in the protests.

🎥اعتراضات شبانه در برخی شهرهای ایران در شامگاه ۲۵ شهریور آغاز شده است. در این ویدیو که به دست ایران‌وایر از خیابان شریعتی تهران رسیده است، یک دختر و پسر جوان به شیوه دختران خیابان انقلاب دست به اعتراض می‌زنند.#سالگرد_مهسا #شهروندخبرنگار #مهسا_امینی #اعتراضات_سراسری… pic.twitter.com/L2ZeKbW8pQ

— ایران وایر (@iranwire) September 16, 2023

Hengaw, a human rights organization, reported ongoing street protests in Kermanshah’s Nobahar district and police fired at protesters. 

Government forces are reported to be firing at protesters, resulting in several people being injured by Saturday evening, in Kermanshah and in the Bari Shilanan district of the Kurdish town of Mahabad, where at least one person was injured. 

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علی رغم حضور گسترده نیروهای سرکوبگر حکومت ایران شهروندان معترض #رشت همچنان در خیابان حضور دارند و مرگ بر دیکتاتور سر می دهند.#مهسا_امینی pic.twitter.com/IgFJLWCVlU

— Hyrcani Human Rights Media (@HyrcaniHRM) September 16, 2023

The protests came amid a growing crackdown on dissent by the Iranian government. 

In recent weeks, authorities have arrested hundreds of people, including activists, journalists, and students.

The government has also imposed severe restrictions on the internet and social media, making it difficult for Iranians to communicate with each other and the outside world.

Cities across Iran have been overtaken by military patrols and checkpoints as security forces have been stationed at key locations to prevent demonstrations on the one-year anniversary today of Mahsa Amini’s death.

Amini, a 22-year-old Kurdish woman, died in police custody following her arrest by the morality police for wearing her headscarf “improperly."