‘Women, life, freedom’<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Iran has had more than two months of violent protests, sparked on 16 September by the death of Mahsa Amini, a 22-year-old Iranian Kurd arrested for an alleged breach of the Islamic Republic’s strict dress rules for women.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The authorities have denounced the protests as “riots” encouraged by the West.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
French Foreign Minister Catherine Colonna said that the situation “requires action, with responsibility”, adding that after two packages of sanctions already imposed at a European level, new sanctions are being prepared for the next Council of Foreign Ministers on 12 December.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
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- France’s Macron calls for fresh sanctions against Iran over protest repression<\/strong><\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n
- EU hits out at Iranian sanctions on European politicians and media<\/strong><\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n
Meanwhile, a Revolutionary Guards general in Iran said Tuesday that more than 300 people have been killed in Iran in the protests.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
“Everyone in the country has been affected by the death of this lady [Amini]. I don’t have the latest figures, but I think we have had perhaps more than 300 martyrs and people killed in this country, including children, since this incident,” Brigadier General Amirali Hajizadeh, head of the Guards’ aerospace division, said in a video published by the Mehr news agency.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The toll includes dozens of police, troops and militia killed in clashes with demonstrators.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The latest official toll is much closer to the figure of at least 416 “killed in the suppression of protests in Iran” according to estimates of the Oslo-based group Iran Human Rights<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The group says the toll includes those killed in violence related to the Amini protests and in distinct unrest in the southeastern province of Sistan-Baluchistan.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Prisoners released<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
In a further development, Iran has released more than 700 prisoners some of whom “were arrested during the recent events,” according to the Mizan Online website of the judiciary on Monday, making indirect reference to demonstrations.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The decision came after the national team’s 2-0 victory over Wales in the\u00a0World Cup football<\/a>\u00a0in Qatar last Friday.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n
![\"\"](\"https:\/\/codir.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/12\/image-1024x683.png\")
<\/a><\/figure>\n\n\n\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/codir.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/12\/image.gif\")
<\/a>An Iran fan is holds a t-shit in memory of Mahsa Amini, inside the stadium before the match against Wales at the World Cup football in Qatar, 25 November, 2022. REUTERS – DYLAN MARTINEZ<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n Other Iranian media separately reported that prominent Iranian actor Hengameh Ghaziani had been released on bail after her arrest for having supported the protests.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Two of the most prominent figures detained over the demonstrations – former international footballer Voria Ghafouri and dissident Hossein Ronaghi – were also let out on bail, reports said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
State news agency IRNA reported on Monday that former state television host Mahmoud Shahriari, 63, had been released after two months in prison for “encouraging riots”.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights Volker Turk last week said around 14,000 people have been arrested in Iran<\/a>.<\/p>\n
- EU hits out at Iranian sanctions on European politicians and media<\/strong><\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n