‘Death to Khamenei’: Iranians chant slogans against supreme leader at memorials for slain protesters

Iranians shout slogans against the supreme leader of the Islamic Republic as they gather to commemorate protesters killed in a crackdown on nationwide anti-regime demonstrations that rights groups said left thousands dead, according to videos verified by AFP.

The country’s clerical authorities also staged a commemoration in the capital Tehran to mark the 40th day since the deaths at the peak of the protests on January 8 and 9, in line with Shiite mourning tradition.

Officials acknowledge more than 3,000 people died during the unrest, but attribute the violence to “terrorist acts.” Rights groups estimate tens of thousands of people may have been killed, shot dead by security forces in a violent crackdown.

The protests, sparked by anger over the rising cost of living before exploding in size and anti-government fervor, ended after the crackdown, but in recent days, Iranians have chanted slogans from the relative safety of homes and rooftops at night.

Today, videos verified by AFP showed crowds gathering at memorials for some of those killed again shouting slogans against the theocratic government in place since the 1979 Islamic Revolution.

In videos geolocated by AFP shared on social media, a crowd in Abadan in western Iran holds up flowers and commemorative photos of a young man as they shout “death to Khamenei,” referring to Iran’s supreme leader, and “long live the shah,” in support of the ousted monarchy.

Another video from the same city shows people running in panic from the sounds of shots, though it wasn’t immediately clear if they were from live fire.

In the northeastern city of Mashhad, a crowd in the street chants, “One person killed, thousands have his back,” another verified video showed.

Gatherings also take place in other parts of the country, according to videos shared by rights groups.