Iran Rejects 161 Protesters Death Toll Provided by Amnesty

Published December 1st, 2019 - 07:40 GMT
Iranian pro-government demonstrators burn makeshift US flags as they gather in the capital Tehran's central Enghelab Square on November 25, 2019, to condemn days of "rioting" that Iran blames on its foreign foes. (AFP/ File Photo)
Iranian pro-government demonstrators burn makeshift US flags as they gather in the capital Tehran's central Enghelab Square on November 25, 2019, to condemn days of "rioting" that Iran blames on its foreign foes. (AFP/ File Photo)
Highlights
Protests rocked Iran this month over fuel prices.

Iran on Saturday disputed death tolls issued by foreign human rights groups for protests that erupted in the country over fuel prices.  

Demonstrations broke out across Iran in mid-November after the government imposed petrol rationing and hiked fuel prices at least 50%.  

While Iranian authorities did not give any toll from the protests, Amnesty International said at least 161 protesters have been killed.  


"Statistics by international organizations on those killed in the recent incidents are not credible,” Deputy Interior Minister Jamal Orf said in statements cited by the official IRNA news agency.  

Orf accused foreign outlets of "exaggerating" the figures.  

At least 100 banks and dozens of shops have been set ablaze during the protests, the semi-official Mehr news agency has reported, quoting security officials.

This article has been adapted from its original source.

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