This Video Does Not Feature Iran's Protesters Confronting the Police
The Claim
During protests, Iranian protesters are seen fighting security forces in a video.
News posted on
Emerging story
Social media users recently began circulating a video purporting to show Iranian protesters brutally beating Basij security forces.
Misbar’s Analysis
Misbar investigated the circulating video and found the claim to be misleading.
The widely circulated video does not depict an Iranian protest in a confrontation with security forces recently.
2011 Iran Protests
After conducting a thorough reverse image search, Misbar discovered that the video making the rounds was outdated.
The video was uploaded to YouTube on February 21, 2011.
The video's caption reads, "confrontation between Basij forces and protesters in Iran."
Thousands of protesters clashed with security officers at a banned rally in Tehran. A single fatality, numerous injuries, and numerous arrests were reported.
Tear gas, batons, and gunfire were used by riot police and government-sponsored Basiji forces to disperse demonstrators yelling "death to the dictator."
Opposition leaders Mir Hossein Mousavi and Mehdi Karroubi have called for more demonstrations in support of protesters in Egypt and Tunisia. In response, many journalists and activists were detained by the authorities.
Uproar Reigns Again in Iran
Iran's security forces opened fire and used tear gas on protesters in the Kurdish cities of Sanandaj and Saqez on Saturday afternoon, as weeks of nationwide protests gained momentum.
According to Hengaw, security forces killed a driver in Sanandaj, injured two teachers in Saqqez, and killed a protester.
Two members of Iran's security forces have been killed in the country's ongoing anti-government protests, according to state media.
The cities of Saqez, Diwandareh, Mahabad, and Sanandaj, as well as those of Tehran, Karaj, Esfahan, Shiraz, Kerman, Mashhad, Tabriz, and Rasht, are all majorly affected by strikes on Saturday.
IranHR, a Norwegian human rights organization focused on Iran, reports 154 deaths since Mahsa Amini's death sparked protests. According to Human Rights Watch, 60 people had died as of September 31.
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