The US-based Iranian news agency "Human Rights Activists" (Human Rights Activists News Agency, HRANA) announced today that it can confirm the death of 5,002 people during the protest movement that shook Iran at the end of last year and the beginning of this year, Agence France-Presse reported, BTA reported.
According to HRANA, 4,714 demonstrators, 42 minors, 207 security forces and 39 bystanders were killed. The organization added that it is still investigating 9,787 potential deaths.
The work of human rights organizations to confirm the victims is complicated by restrictions on internet connections in Iran imposed by the authorities on January 8, AFP notes.
According to the agency, at least 26,852 people have been arrested during the protests.
The Norway-based non-governmental organization "Iran Human Rights" (Iran Human Rights) announced that it had confirmed the deaths of 3,428 protesters, stressing that there are serious concerns that the real number of victims could reach 25,000.
Two days ago, Iranian authorities reported 3,117 deaths, with the official version stating that most of them were members of the security forces or bystanders, not protesters, Agence France-Presse reports.