Iran: man speaks out on death of wife following protest

On January 8th, an Iranian citizen, Reza, lost his wife to a gunshot after the couple attended a protest, with neither of them reportedly having known where the gunshot had been fired from, according to BBC Persian.

Reza explained: “Suddenly I felt my arm go light…only her jacket was in my hands.” Reza had carried his wife Maryam for an hour and a half before he got tired – he ended up sitting in an alley, where a few moments later a family opened their door to find him and his wife, and later wrapped her body in a white sheet. For the purpose of safety, Reza and Maryam’s names have been changed in the BBC report.

Maryam had children aged seven and 14, she had told them both about the possibility of parents going to protests and not coming back home. She said: “My blood is yours and isn’t more precious than anyone else’s.”

Alongside various protestors who should have returned home, Maryam is one of the many who have been killed. According to the Iranian Rights Activists News Agency (HRANA), there have been confirmed killings of at least 2,400 protestors – 12 being children. Many protestors have dangerously clashed with security forces.

The death count, however, is difficult to determine; the country’s internet blackout presents an obstacle for the death toll to be reported on. Various news organisations – including the BBC remain unable to report on the ground in Iran. The Iranian authorities have not provided a specific death figure, but local media reported that 100 security personnel have been killed.

By January 9th, Iran had entered its 13th consecutive day of anti-government demonstrations, with internet infrastructure severely disrupted. More than 2,200 people have now been arrested.

The protests originally erupted due to worsening inflation, a rise in living costs, and economic stagnation within Iran.

BBC Persian, Maghrebi.org