Amnesty International reported on Wednesday that Iranian authorities have committed mass unlawful killings on an “unprecedented scale” in their crackdown on protesters, basing its findings on verified video evidence and eyewitness accounts.
According to a statement from the UK-based human rights group, “Security forces positioned on the streets and rooftops, including of residential buildings, mosques and police stations, have repeatedly fired rifles and shotguns loaded with metal pellets, targeting unarmed protesters frequently in their heads and torsos.”
The organization denounced a “coordinated nationwide escalation” in the security forces’ use of lethal force. This escalation reportedly began on January 8, coinciding with the start of widespread protests and the implementation of an internet shutdown across the country.
