Demonstrators across Iran blocked roads, chanted against the government and clashed with security forces, as anti-government protests continued to escalate over three weeks since Tehran morality police killed Mahsa Amini.
In recent days, activists in Iran had called for largescale protests to be held on Saturday.
'گوهردشت #کرج، همین الان'"ایرانی باغیرت، حمایت حمایت"ویدیوی دریافتی با شرح بالا +'شنبه ۱۶ مهر'#مهسا_امینی #MahsaAmini pic.twitter.com/T5WbyHQMbk
— Vahid Online (@Vahid) October 8, 2022
Throughout the day on Saturday, protests broke out in Tehran, Mashhad, Sanandaj, Karaj and Babol, among other locations, with demonstrators shouting "death to the dictator," "Ali will be overthrown," "women, life, freedom" and "mullahs get lost," among other slogans.
♦️ اعتصاب و اعتراضات دانشجویان دانشگاه شهبانو فرح پهلوی (الزهرا) #تهران با شعار: توپ تانک فشفشه، آخوند باید گم بشه شنبه ۱۶ مهرماه ۲۵۸۱ شاهنشاهی (معادل ۱۴۰۱ هجری خورشیدی) #انقلاب_ملی#مهسا_امینی #IranProtest #IranRevolution pic.twitter.com/PspGWfATJ4
— Farashgard Foundation (@FarashgardFdn) October 8, 2022
At Al-Zahra University in Tehran, students protested as Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi visited the campus telling Raisi to "get lost."
A university student told Reuters on Saturday, "They can kill us, arrest us, but we will not remain silent anymore. Our classmates are in jail. How can we remain silent?"
Videos showed on social medias showed protesters gathering in the streets and blocking roads in multiple cities.
تهران نازی‌آباد، ۱۶ مهر ۱۴۰۱#مهسا_امینی pic.twitter.com/G0cxRR1lOA
— +۱۵۰۰تصویر (@1500tasvir) October 8, 2022
Security forces continued to crackdown on protesters across the country, firing tear gas, rubber bullets and live ammunition towards demonstrators.
In Sanandaj, a number of protesters were reportedly killed by shots fired by Iranian security forces, with the Kurdish Hengaw Organization for Human Rights reporting that three people had been killed on Saturday. Dozens of injuries were reported in the protests as well.
Casualties were reported in other cities across Iran as well, although details remained unclear as of Saturday night.
سه راه ادب #سنندج و به عقب راندن نیروهای سرکوبگر توسط جوانان معترض.#مهسا_امینی #اعتراضات_سراسری#نیکا_شاکرمی #زن_زندگی_آزادی#MahsaAmini #Mahsa_Amini pic.twitter.com/GRrOEBxpRh
— Omid Barin | امید برین (@barin_omid) October 8, 2022
Despite the crack down, multiple videos shared on social media showed security forces running as protesters chased them away.
فرار ماموران جمهوری‌اسلامی، امروز ۱۶ مهر ۱۴۰۱ بازار تهران.#مهسا_امینی pic.twitter.com/OWqjJpOz3s
— +۱۵۰۰تصویر (@1500tasvir) October 8, 2022
As of late Saturday night, protests were reportedly ongoing in Tehran, with protesters blocking central roads in Iran's capital.
حضور چند مامور نیروی انتظامی در میان تظاهرات‌کنندگان نازی‌آباد تهران در ۱۶ مهر ۱۴۰۱. از دلیل این حرکت اطلاعی نداریم.#مهسا_امینی pic.twitter.com/Md5Hz91y73
— +۱۵۰۰تصویر (@1500tasvir) October 9, 2022
Overnight, videos were published on social media showing police walking alongside protesters in Tehran, with one video appearing to show police and other security forces arguing and fighting against each other near a protest.
درگیری بین نیروهای یگان ویژه و لباس شخصی pic.twitter.com/drbKs5RCsF
— اتاق خبر منوتو (@ManotoNews) October 8, 2022
The Iranian government continued to restrict internet access, with Internet watchdog NetBlocks reporting that internet had been cut in Sanandaj. Mobile network has been disrupted most nights as well.
⚠️ Confirmed: Live network data show that internet has been cut in #Sanadaj, Kurdistan Province, #Iran, amid reports of new killings during protests over the death of #MahsaAmini; meanwhile, national mobile disruptions are again in effect Report: https://t.co/8cCHIJAADQ pic.twitter.com/r8kKsiwKBz
— NetBlocks (@netblocks) October 8, 2022
Hackers broadcast call to join protests on Iran state media
On Saturday evening, the Edalat Ali hacker group hacked the broadcast of Iran's state news agency IRIB, replacing the broadcast with an animation showing a target on Iranian Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei and the words "Join us and rise up. The blood of our youth is dripping from your hand."
The animation also showed photos of Amini and a number of Iranians killed by security forces amid the protests.
"Wake up and join us in the streets. We will continue our operations until the destruction of the corrupt system," said the Edalat Ali group in a Telegram message.
The Edalat Ali group has claimed a number of hacks against the Iranian government in the past, including a leak of security camera footage within the Evin and Ghezel Hesar Prisons, used to jail political prisoners and those charged with drug-trafficking.
The group has also leaked files related to the 2019-2020 Iranian protests, known as Bloody November.