Witness recounts ‘main killing’ during intensified crackdown in Fardis
A witness to protests in Fardis, Alborz province, said the “main killing” occurred on Friday, January 9, when security forces intensified their crackdown and opened fire with live ammunition on protesters after initially allowing the gathering to proceed.
The witness told Iran International that on January 8, the first day of protests, security forces were caught off guard by the size of the crowd and that the number of fatalities that night was limited.
According to the witness, the situation escalated sharply the following day when Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps forces and special police units, after permitting the protest to take place, opened fire from multiple directions using military-grade weapons.
“In some areas of Fardis there was widespread gunfire, and a large number of people were killed on Ahari Street,” the witness said.
The witness also reported seeing direct shootings, including what they described as execution-style “final shots” fired at elderly protesters.
According to the account, in several cases families of those killed by direct fire were later forced to sign commitments identifying the victims as members of the Basij militia. The witness said this was done because families were unable to afford the high costs demanded for the release of the bodies.
