The first fatality was reported in Iran in the midst of continuous protests against economic hardship when state television reported the killing of a man late on Wednesday night after days of protests prompted by runaway inflation and a plummeting currency. The murder was the escalation of the most severe consequences since the nationwide protests that shook the country three years ago.
The state media reported on Thursday that the dead was 21 year old Amirhossam Khodayari Fard who was said to be a member of the Basij, the paramilitary force that is usually sent into the streets to put down demonstrations. The accident took place in the Iranian city of Kuhdasht in the Lorestan province. Nonetheless, foreign news houses reported that they could not confirm the identity and conditions of the death independently.
The unrest started a few days ago when shopkeepers in some cities closed their businesses in discontent over severe increase in prices, high inflation that is estimated to be around 40 percent, and the further weakening of the Iranian rial. What began as economic protests has since extended to other parts of the world indicating increasing anxiety among the population over the cost of living and insufficient economic opportunities.
These demonstrations are especially timely to the clerical government in Iran. The nation is dealing with the effects of the old-time Western sanctions which have brought the economy to its knees in addition to the increased tensions in the region. Iran domestic uncertainty and pressure on the government were further increased by Israeli and U.S. airstrikes on Iran nuclear facilities and senior military figures in June.
Governments have been quite moderate in reaction to the protests. Authorities have talked of consultation and interaction with protesters, which is a more amicable gesture than the previous times of unrest. Nonetheless, protests have been characterized by activist groups and local media indicating that there has been a massive police presence in various cities, where security agencies are stationed to ensure the protests do not carry any further gains.
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