Iran holds memorial for thousands killed in recent protests

Iranian authorities hold a commemoration ceremony in Tehran for thousands of people killed during the recent mass anti-regime protests, which ended after a government crackdown.

The memorial, held at the Imam Khomeini Grand Mosalla mosque, marked the 40th day since the deaths, in line with Shiite mourning tradition.

Crowds carried Iranian flags and portraits of those killed as nationalist songs played and chants of “Death to America” and “Death to Israel” echoed through the venue.

Protests erupted in late December before expanding into nationwide anti-government demonstrations that peaked on January 8 and 9.

Tehran has acknowledged that more than 3,000 people died during the unrest, including members of the security forces and bystanders, attributing the violence to “terrorist acts.”

International organizations have put the toll far higher. The US-based Human Rights Activists News Agency (HRANA) says more than 7,000 people were killed, most of them protesters, and estimates of the true death toll are in the tens of thousands.

Iranian authorities say the protests began peacefully but claim they turned into “foreign-instigated riots” involving killings and vandalism, which the state blamed on the United States and Israel.

Senior officials, including First Vice President Mohammad Reza Aref and Revolutionary Guards commander Esmail Qaani, attend the ceremony.

“Those who supported rioters and terrorists are criminals and will face the consequences,” Qaani says, according to Tasnim news agency.

On Friday, Iran said it had established a fact-finding committee to investigate the unrest, while authorities pledged swift trials for those involved in the violence.

State television has in recent weeks aired what it described as interrogation sessions with suspects accused of armed attacks on public property and security personnel.