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| Hadis Najafi: Iran police fire on mourners for female protester - witnesses | Hadis Najafi: Iran police fire on mourners for female protester - witnesses |
| (31 minutes later) | |
| Authorities blocked roads, but failed to stop people reaching the cemetery where Hadis Najafi is buried | Authorities blocked roads, but failed to stop people reaching the cemetery where Hadis Najafi is buried |
| 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. | 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 and blocked roads to stop 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 thousands walking along a highway to reach the cemetery in Karaj 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 responded by firing shotguns, witnesses told the BBC. | Security personnel responded by firing shotguns, witnesses told the BBC. |
| "They [security forces] were firing birdshot at people," said one person living in an area where there were clashes. "They stabbed a protester with a machete after he fell to the ground, already hit with birdshot." | "They [security forces] were firing birdshot at people," said one person living in an area where there were clashes. "They stabbed a protester with a machete after he fell to the ground, already hit with birdshot." |
| Witnesses say security forces used shotguns to target protesters, as well as nearby homes and cars | Witnesses say security forces used shotguns to target protesters, as well as nearby homes and cars |
| Another witness told the BBC that a bullet fired by security forces had hit the window of their neighbour's home. | Another witness told the BBC that a bullet fired by security forces had hit the window of their neighbour's home. |
| "People are chanting 'death to the dictator' on the main street. They have fired tear gas. It has spread into the neighbourhood. My throat is burning." | "People are chanting 'death to the dictator' on the main street. They have fired tear gas. It has spread into the neighbourhood. My throat is burning." |
| They added: "I tried to record a video from the window, but they are firing shots... I am scared. We have closed the curtains." | They added: "I tried to record a video from the window, but they are firing shots... I am scared. We have closed the curtains." |
| BBC Persian also obtained a video showing security forces opening fire on a street and another from near the cemetery in which a gunshot could be heard. | |
| Videos obtained by BBC Persian show that security officers are shooting at the 40th day memorial service for #HadisNajafi, a young woman who killed in #Karaj city. #Iran #MahsaAmini https://t.co/KTKi2edQIL | |
| The hard-line Tasnim news agency said a member of the paramilitary Basij Resistance Force had been stabbed to death by "rioters". | The hard-line Tasnim news agency said a member of the paramilitary Basij Resistance Force had been stabbed to death by "rioters". |
| The agency also said that three police officers had been seriously injured in an alleged armed attack and posted a video it said showed the aftermath. | The agency also said that three police officers had been seriously injured in an alleged armed attack and posted a video it said showed the aftermath. |
| However, the report was rejected by opposition activist collective 1500tasvir, which had posted the original video. | However, the report was rejected by opposition activist collective 1500tasvir, which had posted the original video. |
| It said the officers had fired on protesters and that they had then chased them and thrown stones at their pick-up truck. It posted other videos showing people throwing stones at the officers through the vehicle's broken windows. | It said the officers had fired on protesters and that they had then chased them and thrown stones at their pick-up truck. It posted other videos showing people throwing stones at the officers through the vehicle's broken windows. |
| Hadis Najafi, a 22-year-old TikToker, hoped to look back on a changed Iran - but was shot dead | Hadis Najafi, a 22-year-old TikToker, hoped to look back on a changed Iran - but was shot dead |
| Hadis Najafi, a 22-year-old TikToker, recorded a video on her phone as she walked to a demonstration in Karaj, a city that is about 10km (6 miles) 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, a city that is about 10km (6 miles) 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 says 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 says 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. |
| 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. | 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. | 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. | 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. | 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. |
| 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 | |
| They were heard shouting "death to dictator" - a reference to Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. Other chants included "You are the filth, you are the immoral, I am a free woman" and "Each protester killed will be replaced by 1,000 more". | They were heard shouting "death to dictator" - a reference to Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. Other chants included "You are the filth, you are the immoral, I am a free woman" and "Each protester killed will be replaced by 1,000 more". |
| 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. | 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. |
| 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. | 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 been killed in "riots". | 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". |
| A video posted by opposition activists showed protesters gathered near a burning vehicle in Karaj | A video posted by opposition activists showed protesters gathered near a burning vehicle in Karaj |
| 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 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. | 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. | 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. |