Harry Potter author Rowling posts support for Iran protests

Hakeem Jeffries, the top Democrat in the US House of Representatives, voiced support on Saturday for protesters in Iran, calling their actions a fight for “freedom, dignity and self-determination.”

“Millions of people across Iran are displaying tremendous bravery in the face of decades of oppression and dictatorial rule,” Jeffries said in a statement.

“The world is watching in awe as they lead an honorable fight for freedom, dignity and self-determination. I stand with the courageous protestors who are under attack by the Islamic Republic.”

Barron Trump, the son of US President Donald Trump, shared videos showing a large protest rally in Tehran during ongoing demonstrations.

The post said authorities attempted to disrupt the protest by cutting power, but that demonstrators continued to gather and illuminate the streets with their phones.

“You can kill the power. You can’t kill the will of the people. Every tyrannical regime makes this mistake. And it always ends the same way," he said on X.

Iran’s parliament speaker warned that Israel and US military and shipping facilities would be targets if the United States launches a military attack, following US President Donald Trump’s warnings to Tehran over a crackdown on protesters.

“In the event of a US military attack, both Israel and US military and shipping centers will be our legitimate target,” Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf said.

“Within the framework of legitimate defense, we do not consider ourselves limited to reacting after an action, and we are telling Trump and his allies in the region not to make a miscalculation,” Ghalibaf added, calling Trump “delusional”.

Footage sent to Iran International from Kahrizak, south of Tehran, shows several dead bodies in body bags. According to eyewitness accounts accompanying the videos, dozens of bodies are visible at the site, with additional bodies reportedly located in another nearby industrial shed.

Videos earlier sent to Iran International from Fardis, Karaj, and Alghadir Hospital in eastern Tehran showed similar scenes of dead bodies falling on the ground, pointing to an unfolding mass killing that is not confined to a limited number of cities.

The internet shutdown that started on January 8 have made it impossible to obtain a full picture of events on the ground. However, the volume and consistency of incoming accounts suggest that lethal force is being widely used to disperse protesters.

The most conservative estimates indicate that at least 2,000 people have been killed over the past 48 hours. A doctor in the northern city of Rasht told Iran International that one hospital alone received at least 70 bodies.

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Footage sent to Iran International from Kahrizak, south of Tehran, shows several dead bodies in body bags.

According to eyewitness accounts accompanying the videos, dozens of bodies are visible at the site, with additional bodies reportedly located in another nearby industrial shed.

A series of videos obtained by @Vahid from Tehran’s Kahrizak forensic center show rows of bodies reportedly transported by pickup trucks after the January 8 crackdown on Iran protests.

In one clip, an on-screen label refers to “photo number … out of 250,” suggesting the scale of fatalities.

Two eyewitnesses who visited Kahrizak in search of their loved ones told Iran International that they saw more than 400 bodies there.

The most conservative estimates indicate that at least 2,000 people have been killed across Iran over the past 48 hours.

A doctor in the northern city of Rasht told Iran International that one hospital alone received at least 70 bodies.

On Friday alone, 44 bodies were transferred to Madani Hospital in Karaj and 36 to Ghaem Hospital in Karaj.

Medical sources in other cities also reported a high number of fatalities to Iran International.

Videos earlier sent to Iran International from Fardis, Karaj, and Alghadir Hospital in eastern Tehran showed similar scenes of dead bodies falling on the ground, pointing to an unfolding mass killing that is not confined to a limited number of cities.

The internet shutdown that started on January 8 have made it impossible to obtain a full picture of events on the ground. However, the volume and consistency of incoming accounts suggest that lethal force is being widely used to disperse protesters.

Sources describe particularly intense violence in areas including Fardis in Karaj, and parts of Tehran, while stressing that similar reports are emerging from many other locations across the country including the western provinces of Ilam and Kermanshah.

Despite the near-total internet blackout, videos and messages continue to reach Iran International through limited channels, including Starlink users. These users are largely based in major cities and more affluent areas, leaving large parts of the country with little visibility. Even so, journalists say they are receiving credible information indicating that mass protests are continuing nationwide.

Independent verification remains extremely difficult under current conditions.