At least 13 people have been killed in the Kurdish region of Iran as the security forces use live ammunition to quell anti-government demonstrations.
On Monday, heavy gunfire was reported in Mahabad, a Kurdish-majority city in western Iran where columns of security forces were seen entering the town.
Kurdish rights group Hengaw said that 13 people died within a 24-hour period when heavy weapons were turned on protesters.
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Iranians protest in Tehran after the death of 22-year-old Mahsa Amini after she was detained by the morality police in September. AP Photo -
Protests have intensified despite a vicious government crackdown that has left as many as 200 people dead, although estimates of the toll by rights groups vary. AP Photo -
At least eight members of the security forces have also been killed or wounded during the unrest and there are signs that violent resistance could be intensifying. AP Photo -
A fire burns at the office of the governor of Mahabad, in the West Azerbaijan province of Iran. AFP -
Protesters gather in the a courtyard of Chitgar complex in western Tehran. AFP -
Iranian protesters continue to defy a deadly crackdown by security forces. AFP -
A woman cuts her hair at the grave site of Nika Shahkarami in the city of Khorramabad, during a reported memorial held to mark 40 days since the death of the 16-year-old. AFP -
A woman not wearing a headscarf stands on top of a vehicle as thousands make their way towards Saqez, Mahsa Amini's home town, to mark 40 days since her death in police custody. AFP -
Iranian riot police prepare to confront protesters the capital, Tehran. AFP -
Iranian protesters surge forward amid clashes with riot police in Tehran. AFP -
A crowd blocks an intersection during a protest to mark 40 days since Amini's death in custody. AP Photo -
Iranian police arrive to disperse a protest in Tehran. AP Photo -
Protesters chant at a vigil for Amini at the Khajeh Nasir Toosi University of Technology in Tehran. Reuters -
Students at Sharif University of Technology attend a protest. AP Photo -
Police outside Sharif University during a student protest. AP Photo -
Students at the university protest over the death of Amini, who was in 'morality police' custody for allegedly breaking strict rules on head coverings for women. AP Photo -
The students' banner says: 'No to mandatory hijab'. AP Photo
Among six people killed by gunfire in one incident on Sunday was Karwan Ghader Shokri, 16.
Later, a man was killed when the security forces fired on crowds as the teenager's body was being brought to a mosque, Hengaw said.
The latest violence comes more than two months into a nationwide protest movement that has led to the deaths of 400 civilians and up to 50 members of the security forces.
Germany has asked the UN to adopt a resolution calling on Iran to end the violence. There is to be a meeting of the UN Human Rights Council on Thursday.
Iran’s security forces have heavily reinforced the cities of Piranshahr, Marivan and Javanroud, all in the Kurdish region. These are cities where thousands of people have taken to the streets since September 16, following the death of Iranian-Kurdish woman Mahsa Amini.
Ms Amini’s death in police custody sparked protests across the country, which led to national strikes, rioting and a major security crackdown.
Some analysts have said the recent scenes — including footage of thousands of demonstrators gathered to condemn the government in several cities — are reminiscent of the 1979 revolution.
At the time, a broad coalition of groups including communists, Kurds and Islamists united to overthrow the monarchy. Islamists under the cleric Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini then succeeded in dominating the revolution, installing theocratic rule.
However, few believe the current unrest will develop into a full-scale attempt to overthrow the government, in part because the regime has built deep networks of support and possesses a strong domestic security force known as the Basij, which has been instrumental in security crackdowns.
