HIBAPRESS
Activists have stated that the number of deaths in the crackdown against protests across Iran has exceeded 5,000 people, with continuing fears of more casualties.
The Human Rights Activists News Agency (HRANA), based in the United States, provided this toll. The agency relies on a network of activists inside Iran to verify deaths and has been accurate in its estimates during previous rounds of unrest in the country.
For its part, the Iranian government provided the first official death toll on Wednesday, announcing the killing of 3,117 people. The theocratic regime in Iran is known for exaggerating the reduction of the number of deaths or not announcing the deaths resulting from unrest.
The Associated Press was unable to assess the death toll due to the authorities cutting off internet service in Iran for more than two weeks, in addition to the continued disruption of international calls until now.
