Death toll in violence surrounding protests challenging Iran’s theocracy reaches 116, activists say

Nationwide protests challenging Iran’s theocracy reach the two-week mark, as the death toll in violence surrounding the demonstrations reaches at least 116 people killed, activists say.

With the internet down in Iran and phone lines cut off, gauging the demonstrations from abroad has grown more difficult. But the death toll in the protests has grown to at least 116 and over 2,600 others detained, according to the US-based Human Rights Activists News Agency. The agency has been accurate in multiple rounds of previous unrest in Iran.

Iranian state TV is reporting on security force casualties while portraying control over the nation, without discussing dead demonstrators, whom it increasingly refers to as “terrorists.” However, it also acknowledges protests are on into this morning, with demonstrations in Tehran and in the holy city of Mashhad to the northeast.