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Hadis Najafi: Iran police clash with mourners of female protester Hadis Najafi: Iran police fire on mourners of female protester - witnesses
(about 3 hours later)
A video posted by opposition activists showed protesters gathered near a burning vehicle in Karaj Authorities blocked roads, but failed to stop people reaching the cemetery where Hadis Najafi is buried
Clashes have erupted between Iranian security forces and a crowd marking the 40th day of mourning for a young woman shot dead while protesting near Tehran. Iranian security forces have opened fire on crowds near Tehran marking the 40th day of mourning for a woman shot dead while protesting, witnesses say.
Authorities shut a cemetery to stop thousands of people reaching the grave of Hadis Najafi, who has become a symbol of the unrest engulfing Iran. Authorities shut a cemetery and blocked roads to stop people reaching the grave of Hadis Najafi, who has become a symbol of the unrest engulfing Iran.
Videos showed protesters blocking a highway in Karaj, burning a vehicle and shouting anti-government slogans. Videos showed thousands walking along a highway to reach the cemetery in Karaj and shouting anti-government slogans.
Security personnel were seen firing tear gas towards them in other footage. Security personnel responded by firing live rounds, witnesses told the BBC.
Last week, security forces opened fire at large crowds marking the 40th day of mourning for Mahsa Amini, the young woman whose death in police custody initially sparked the protests, and for Nika Shakarami, a teenage girl who was killed during a protest. Officers in plainclothes also attacked people with machetes, they added.
Today is 40 days since the death of another young woman, #HadisNajafi. The authorities have tried to stop mourners from going to her grave, so mourners have blocked the road. They are chanting: “This year is the year of blood, the year in which Seyed Ali will be toppled,” #Iran pic.twitter.com/8fSgF76Rva A gunshot could also be heard in a video from the area near the cemetery that has been verified by BBC Persian.
ویدیوهای منتشرشده در شبکه‌های اجتماعی از افزایش تدریجی جمعیت معترضان در کرج در چهلم حدیث نجفی حکایت دارد. معترضان کیوسک و خودروی پلیس را آتش زده و شعارهایی علیه حکومت سر دادند. ویدیوها از شلیک نیروهای امنیتی به معترضان و برخورد معترضان با آنها را نشان می‌دهد. pic.twitter.com/QfXE05tt6R
Hadis Najafi, a 22-year-old TikToker, recorded a video on her phone as she walked to a demonstration in Karaj, just west of Tehran, on 21 September.Hadis Najafi, a 22-year-old TikToker, recorded a video on her phone as she walked to a demonstration in Karaj, just west of Tehran, on 21 September.
"I hope in a few years when I look back, I will be happy that everything has changed for the better," she says, as night falls around her, in the video obtained by BBC Persian."I hope in a few years when I look back, I will be happy that everything has changed for the better," she says, as night falls around her, in the video obtained by BBC Persian.
Her family said that she was shot dead by security forces almost an hour later. Officials allegedly asked her father to say that she died of a heart attack.Her family said that she was shot dead by security forces almost an hour later. Officials allegedly asked her father to say that she died of a heart attack.
Hadis Najafi, a 22-year-old TikToker, hoped to look back on a changed Iran - but was shot dead
Last week, Najafi's sister posted a message on Instagram inviting "all our friends who stayed and supported us over the past couple of weeks" to a "chehelom" ceremony on Thursday marking the end of the 40-day mourning period, which is a culturally significant event for Iranians.
However, the BBC understands that she was later told to remove the post by the Iranian intelligence ministry. The family was also warned not to hold any public mourning ceremony or invite anyone to participate in it.
Activists reported on Thursday morning that roads to the Behesht Sakineh cemetery had been closed by security forces in anticipation of protests.
However, thousands of people apparently managed to make their way round the roadblocks and converge on the site.
Videos posted on social media showed large crowds walking along a highway and other roads in Karaj.
Today is 40 days since the death of another young woman, #HadisNajafi. The authorities have tried to stop mourners from going to her grave, so mourners have blocked the road. They are chanting: “This year is the year of blood, the year in which Seyed Ali will be toppled,” #Iran pic.twitter.com/8fSgF76Rva
They were heard shouting "death to dictator" - a reference to Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. Other chants included "You are a whore, I am a free woman" and "Each protester killed will be backed by 1,000 protesters".
Other footage appeared to show security forces firing tear gas at protesters, as well as a police box and police cars on fire. Protesters were also seen tearing and burning a brown "abah" - a robe worn by Shia Muslim clerics.
A video posted by opposition activists showed protesters gathered near a burning vehicle in Karaj
Last week, security forces opened fire at crowds marking the 40th day of mourning for Mahsa Amini, the young woman whose death in police custody initially sparked the protests, and for Nika Shakarami, a teenage girl who was killed during a protest.
Norway-based Iran Human Rights said on Wednesday that 277 people, including 40 children and 24 women, had been killed by security forces in a violent crackdown launched in an attempt to quell the protests.Norway-based Iran Human Rights said on Wednesday that 277 people, including 40 children and 24 women, had been killed by security forces in a violent crackdown launched in an attempt to quell the protests.
Authorities have denied involvement in the killing of protesters, instead blaming foreign-backed "infiltrators" and "terrorists". A state-run newspaper said on Monday that 35 security personnel had died during the unrest. Authorities have denied involvement in the killing of protesters, instead blaming foreign-backed "infiltrators" and "terrorists". A state-run newspaper said on Monday that 35 security personnel had been killed in "riots".
In a separate development in north-west Iran on Thursday, Kurdish human rights group Hengaw reported that security forces had arrested the father of Kumar Daroftateh, a 16-year-old boy who was allegedly shot by security forces at a protest in the city of Piranshahr over the weekend.
In a viral video filmed at his son's funeral on Monday, Hassan Daroftateh was seen saying: "I'm proud that my son was martyred for freedom. He was martyred for freedom of his land.
Hengaw also said a rapper from Kermanshah had been charged with "enmity against God", which carries the death penalty. Saman Yasin had sung protest songs in Kurdish and been tortured since his arrest three weeks ago, it added.