Thousands of Iranian protesters took to the streets for the second consecutive day on Sunday, protesting against the regime for the downing of a Ukrainian plane that killed all 176 people on board.
Protests took place in several Iranian cities with tear gas reportedly fired.
Jan 11- Tehran's Azadi Square, #Iran
More footage of the state security forces firing tear gas at peaceful protesters. #IranProtests2020 pic.twitter.com/0Xt4vZKb0A— IRAN HRM (@IranHrm) January 12, 2020
The protests in Tehran started Saturday evening following a memorial held at Amir Kabir University for those killed on the Ukrainian plane by the regime.
The rallies soon escalated into nationwide protests, with the crowd calling for the overthrow of the regime and its supreme leader Ali Khamenei who is the commander in chief of the armed forces.
Major rallies continued until Sunday with angry protesters calling officials ‘liars’ for having denied shooting down the Ukrainian passenger plane for three days.
In Tehran, Iranian people and students marched to the Azadi Square, chanting, “The stupid leader is our disgrace” and “The IRGC commits crimes & the leader supports them!”
Meanwhile, reports of riot police and security forces shooting rubber bullets at protesters and firing tear gas came from Azadi Avenue in Tehran.
Video clips of women wounded by security forces were posted on the Internet.
WARNING DISTURBING VIDEO
The video is said to be taken tonight in Tehran's Azadi Street, #Iran
The video shows a woman who is shot in the leg.
We cannot independently verify the date of the video. #IranProtests2020 pic.twitter.com/gVTaQR4Vet— IRAN HRM (@IranHrm) January 12, 2020
In Tehran, the authorities blocked people in a metro near Azadi Square. Security forces later resorted to tear gassing those assembled there.
Vigils and protests were held in Tehran, Isfahan, Mashhad, Ahvaz, Shadegan, Kermanshah, Sanandaj, Karaj, Sari, Babol, Amol, Lahijan, Semnan, Shahroud, Tabriz, Qazvin, Zanjan, Shiraz, Urmia, Gorgan, Hamedan, and Arak.
Jan 12 – Ahwaz, SW #Iran#Iranians gathered in front of the city's Central Library for candlelight vigils commemorating the 176 victims of #IranPlaneShootdown #IranPortests pic.twitter.com/9OFXgxPiYV
— IRAN HRM (@IranHrm) January 12, 2020
Students of Tehran University’s School of Management, Khajeh Nassir University, and the University of Science and Industry in Tehran, Bou Ali University of Hamedan, the University of Damghan, Noshirvani University of Babol, and Paris University of Karaj also commemorated the victims of the Ukrainian plane crash.
Donald Trump warned Iran Sunday against killing protesters.
“To the leaders of Iran – DO NOT KILL YOUR PROTESTERS,” Trump tweeted, warning the world and “more importantly, the USA is watching.”
