Protests have continued in the northern Iranian city of Ardabil after a 16-year old school girl, Asra Panahi, died in hospital due to injuries she is believed to have sustained after security forces cracked down on a demonstration at her school. The Shahed girls high school was raided on 13 October after pupils refused to sing an anthem praising the Ayatollah and protested against the government outside. Many suffered injuries and were taken to hospital. Panahi reportedly died on Friday from the injuries she sustained during the crackdown. However, a man claiming to be her uncle appeared on pro-government TV claiming she had died from an inherited heart condition.
Ravina Shamdasani, spokesperson for the UN Human Rights office has said as many as 23 children have been killed from the beginning of the protests. "The Islamic Republic has an obligation to protect children’s right to life under any circumstances, and to respect and protect their right to freedom of expression and peaceful protest."
Iranian schoolgirl ‘beaten to death for refusing to sing’ pro-regime anthem