Death toll in violence surrounding protests challenging Iran's theocracy reaches 116, activists say
Dubai (AP): Nationwide protests challenging Iran's theocracy reached the two-week mark Sunday, as the death toll in violence surrounding the demonstrations reached at least 116 people killed, activists said.
With the internet down in Iran and phone lines cut off, gauging the demonstrations from abroad has grown more difficult. But the death toll in the protests has grown to at least 116 and over 2,600 others detained, according to the US-based Human Rights Activists News Agency. The agency has been accurate in multiple rounds of previous unrest in Iran.
Iranian state TV is reporting on security force casualties while portraying control over the nation, without discussing dead demonstrators, whom it increasingly refers to as “terrorists".
However, it also acknowledged protests went on into Sunday morning, with demonstrations in Tehran and in the holy city of Mashhad to the northeast.
Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei has signalled a coming clampdown, despite US warnings. Tehran escalated its threats Saturday, with the Iran's attorney general, Mohammad Movahedi Azad, warning that anyone taking part in protests will be considered an “enemy of God,” a death-penalty charge.
The statement carried by Iranian state television said even those who “helped rioters” would face the charge.
“Prosecutors must carefully and without delay, by issuing indictments, prepare the grounds for the trial and decisive confrontation with those who, by betraying the nation and creating insecurity, seek foreign domination over the country,” the statement read. “Proceedings must be conducted without leniency, compassion or indulgence.”
US President Donald Trump offered support for the protesters, saying on social media that “Iran is looking at FREEDOM, perhaps like never before. The USA stands ready to help!!!”
The New York Times and Wall Street Journal, reporting citing anonymous US officials, said on Saturday night that Trump had been given military options for a strike on Iran, but hadn't made a final decision.
The State Department separately warned: “Do not play games with President Trump. When he says he'll do something, he means it.”
Saturday marked the start of the work week in Iran, but many schools and universities reportedly held online classes, Iranian state TV reported. Internal Iranian government websites are believed to be functioning.
State TV repeatedly played a driving, martial orchestral arrangement from the “Epic of Khorramshahr” by Iranian composer Majid Entezami, while showing pro-government demonstrations.
The song, aired repeatedly during the 12-day war launched by Israel, honours Iran's 1982 liberation of the city of Khorramshahr during the Iran-Iraq war. It has been used in videos of protesting women cutting away their hair to protest the 2022 death of Mahsa Amini as well.
It also repeatedly aired video of purported protesters shooting at security forces with firearms.
In one online video verified by The Associated Press, protesters demonstrated Friday in northern Tehran's Saadat Abad area, with what appeared to be thousands on the street.
“Death to Khamenei!” a man chanted.
The semiofficial Fars news agency, believed to be close to Iran's paramilitary Revolutionary Guard and one of the few media outlets able to publish to the outside world, released surveillance camera footage of what it said came from demonstrations in Isfahan.
In it, a protester appeared to fire a long gun, while others set fires and threw gasoline bombs at what appeared to be a government compound.
The Young Journalists' Club, associated with state TV, reported that protesters killed three members of the Guard's all-volunteer Basij force in the city of Gachsaran.
It also reported a security official was stabbed to death in Hamadan province, a police officer killed in the port city of Bandar Abbas and another in Gilan, as well as one person slain in Mashhad.
The semiofficial Tasnim news agency, also close to the Guard, claimed authorities detained nearly 200 people belonging to what it described as “operational terrorist teams.” It alleged those arrested had weapons including firearms, grenades and gasoline bombs.
State television also aired footage of a funeral service attended by hundreds in Qom, a Shiite seminary city just south of Tehran.
Iran's theocracy cut off the nation from the internet and international telephone calls on Thursday, though it allowed some state-owned and semiofficial media to publish. Qatar's state-funded Al Jazeera news network reported live from Iran, but they appeared to be the only major foreign outlet able to work.
Iran's exiled Crown Prince Reza Pahlavi, who called for protests Thursday and Friday, asked in his latest message for demonstrators to take to the streets Saturday and Sunday. He urged protesters to carry Iran's old lion-and-sun flag and other national symbols used during the time of the shah to “claim public spaces as your own.”
Pahlavi's support of and from Israel has drawn criticism in the past — particularly after the 12-day war. Demonstrators have shouted in support of the shah in some protests, but it isn't clear whether that's support for Pahlavi himself or a desire to return to a time before the 1979 Islamic Revolution.
Online video purported to show protests ongoing Saturday night as well.
The demonstrations began Dec 28 over the collapse of the Iranian rial currency, which trades at over 1.4 million to $1, as the country's economy is squeezed by international sanctions in part levied over its nuclear programme. The protests intensified and grew into calls directly challenging Iran's theocracy.
Airlines have cancelled some flights into Iran over the demonstrations. Austrian Airlines said Saturday it had decided to suspend its flights to Iran “as a precautionary measure” through Monday. Turkish Airlines earlier announced the cancellation of 17 flights to three cities in Iran.
Meanwhile, concern is growing that the internet shutdown will allow Iran's security forces to go on a bloody crackdown, as they have in other rounds of demonstrations. Ali Rahmani, the son of Nobel Peace Prize laureate Narges Mohammadi who is imprisoned in Iran, noted that security forces killed hundreds in a 2019 protest “so we can only fear the worst.”
“They are fighting, and losing their lives, against a dictatorial regime,” Rahmani said.
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'Hard work brought me this far': Shivakumar confident about what Cong may decide for him
Bengaluru (PTI): Karnataka Deputy Chief Minister D K Shivakumar said on Sunday that his hard work has brought him this far in politics and that he is confident about the Congress party’s future decision regarding him.
Shivakumar, also the state Congress president, made the comments amid a "power tussle" in the party over the chief minister’s post, in which he is involved.
He made the remarks while addressing the 'Udyami Vokkaliga-FC Expo 2025', an event aimed at promoting Vokkaliga entrepreneurship.
Shivakumar belongs to the Vokkaliga community, which has a substantial presence in south Karnataka.
"For my hard work, I have come this far, serving eight times as MLA and working in Bengaluru among all these people. I have faced many challenges to reach this position, and I am here. Whatever the party decides for me in the future, I am confident," Shivakumar said.
Recalling public support during his jail term for "political reasons", he said, "People across parties and communities continue to pray for me. I have said before...efforts may fail, but prayer never fails."
Shivakumar was arrested by the ED in September 2019 in a money laundering case, and the Delhi High Court granted him bail the following month.
Referring to being called a 'bande' (rock) by supporters, he said, "A rock is natural. When carved, it takes shape, and when worshipped in the form of an idol, it becomes culture."
The "power tussle" within the ruling party has intensified amid speculation about a possible change in the CM after the Congress government completed the halfway mark of its five-year term on November 20.
The speculation follows a 2023 "power-sharing" pact between Chief Minister Siddaramaiah and Shivakumar.
In a veiled attack on JD(S) leader and Union Minister H D Kumaraswamy, also a Vokkaliga, Shivakumar said members of his own community target and criticise him every day, but added that such things are common in politics.
"I may be younger, but I have gained extensive experience without any political background. Who is targeting me at the end of the day? It is members of my own community criticising me on TV and social media. Such attacks are common in politics, and we shouldn’t be bothered by them," he said.
Defending his record during the Kumaraswamy-led Congress-JD(S) coalition government, he said, "Kumaranna accused me of backstabbing him. No problem—I don’t need a certificate from anyone. My conscience is enough".
Responding to a question about Kumaraswamy’s claim that Siddaramaiah is on a "lease" as CM, Shivakumar said the chief minister is capable of responding and added, "We don’t take such statements seriously."
On MGNREGA, he said he is ready for a debate with opposition leaders. "The opposition has also said it is ready. Let any TV news channel organise a debate. I will participate whenever required. I welcome Kumaraswamy too," he said.
Clarifying his readiness for a public debate, Shivakumar added, "Let their party president, BJP’s B Y Vijayendra, come. I welcome Kumaraswamy as well. I have accepted the challenge. Whenever they schedule it, I am ready for a debate in the Assembly or on any TV channel. I need three days to adjust my schedule, but I don’t require preparation. I have MGNREGA details at my fingertips."
The Congress has demanded that the Centre scrap the new Viksit Bharat Guarantee for Rozgar and Ajeevika Mission (Gramin) (VB-GRAM) Act and restore the UPA-era MGNREGA scheme.
