Iranian security forces have been filmed firing tear gas during an aggressive raid on a girl’s school in Tehran on Monday, with multiple videos of the incident posted on social media.
One girl was reportedly injured in the security raid, according to an activist monitoring the situation.
Protests — which have led to over 200 deaths in a harsh government crackdown, have endured since September 16, with almost nightly demonstrations in multiple cities.
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A protest for Mahsa Amini, a woman who died after being arrested by the Islamic republic's 'morality police', in Tehran. AFP -
Demonstrators disperse during the protest for Amini, who died in a hospital in the capital Tehran on Friday. AFP -
The crowd chanted 'Death to the dictator', meaning Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, while some women took off their headscarves. AFP -
A man pulls out a police motorcycle set on fire during the protest. Amini had been detained for violating the country's conservative dress code. AP -
In recent months, rights activists have urged women to remove their veils in public, a gesture that would risk their arrest for defying a dress code as the country's rulers crack down on 'immoral behaviour'. AP -
Iranians protest in Sanandaj, the capital of Iran's Kurdistan province, following the Amini's death while in custody. AFP -
Iranian police officers clash with demonstrators in Tehran. Police said Amini fell into a coma as she waited with other detained women at a morality police station, rejecting allegations that she was probably beaten. AFP
Monday’s violence was apparently triggered by authorities wanting to check the students’ phones as part of the crackdown. A teaching union was due to end a two day strike today, in protest against government violence that has led to the deaths of 23 children, but the security raid on the school was unrelated to the strike.
Nationwide demonstrations began following the death of Kurdish Iranian woman Mahsa Amini, 22, who died following a stay in hospital. Demonstrators say she had been severely beaten while detained by morality police, who had arrested her for wearing “improper attire”.
Iran's Ministry of Education said several students were treated by emergency services for a drop in blood pressure, but denied security forces had entered the school.
Videos circulating on social media showed heavily armed security forces outside the school.
One clip showed them on motorbikes and firing at least one tear gas canister. Reuters could not independently verify the authenticity of the footage.
Women have played a prominent part in the protests, removing and burning veils. The deaths of several teenage girls, reportedly killed during protests, have fuelled more anger.
Demonstrations continued on Monday, with a rally at a university in the western city of Hamedan, and students shouting down a government spokesman who visited a Tehran university, according to students and rights groups.
The education ministry said there was a clash at the Tehran high school between staff, students and parents after the school principal insisted on checking the girls' phones.
The widely followed activist Twitter account Tasvir1500 said uniformed forces attacked the school and at least one girl was wounded, but city police denied the account.
“After news of a conflict near a high school … police were dispatched to the area and investigated the issue which turned out to be a fight between a number of thugs,” Tehran police said. Agitators were identified and arrested, police said.
