A newspaper with a cover picture of Mahsa Amini, a woman who died after being arrested by Iranian morality police is seen in Tehran, Iran, September 18, 2022. (Credit: Majid Asgaripour/WANA via Reuters)
DUBAI — Iranian riot police and security forces clashed with demonstrators in dozens of cities Tuesday, state media and social media said, amid continuing protests against the death of Mahsa Amini in police custody.
Amini, 22, from the Iranian Kurdish city of Saqez, was arrested this month in Tehran for "unsuitable attire" by the morality police, which enforces the Islamic Republic's strict dress code.
Her death has sparked the first major expression of opposition on Iran's streets since authorities crushed the 2019 protests against rising in gasoline prices.
Despite a rising death toll amidst a fierce crackdown by authorities, videos posted on Twitter showed demonstrators calling for the fall of the clerical establishment while clashing with security forces in Tehran, Tabriz, Karaj, Yazd and many other Iranian cities.
State television said police clashed with what it called "rioters" in some cities and fired tear gas to disperse them.
Videos posted on social media from inside Iran showed protesters chanting, "Woman, Life, Liberty," while women waved and burnt their veils.
Videos on Twitter showed protesters in Tabriz chanting, "Death to the dictator," a reference to Iran's top authority Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. In the Kurdish cities of Sanandaj and Sardasht, riot police fired on protesters, videos on Twitter showed.
"I will kill those who killed my sister," chants of protesters could be heard in one of the videos from Tehran.
Social media posts, along with some activists, have called for a nationwide strike. Several university teachers have resigned in protest against Amini's death, according to statements published by them on social media.
Students in several universities have refused to attend classes to protest the widespread arrest of students and violent encounters with security forces in universities.
Reuters could not verify videos on social media and reports of teachers' resignation.
Amini's death has drawn widespread international condemnation while Iran has blamed "thugs" linked to "foreign enemies" for stirring up unrest. Tehran has accused the United States and some European countries of using the unrest to try to destabilize the Islamic Republic.
Officials said 41 people, including members of the police and a pro-government militia, died during the protests. Iranian human rights groups have reported a higher toll.
The Iranian human rights group Hengaw said "18 were killed, 898 people were injured and over 1,000 Kurdish protesters have been arrested in the last ten days", estimating the figures to be higher.
Iran's judiciary has set up special courts to try "rioters", according to state media.
To make it difficult for protesters to post videos on social media, authorities have restricted internet access in several provinces, according to internet blockage observatory NetBlocks on Twitter and sources in Iran.
Writing by Parisa Hafezi; Editing by Nick Macfie