40 Days Of Death Mahsa Amini, Antihuru-hara Police Were Enlivened To Iranian Cities For Anticipation Of Demonstrators

Protests against Mahsa Amini's death in Iran. (Wikimedia Commons/Darafsh)

JAKARTA - Iran's anti-huru-hara police were deployed in large numbers in the city of Mahsa Amini's hometown, Saqez, Wednesday, witnesses said, after activists called for protests across the country to mark the 40th day of his death in a moral police custody, as a result of dress-up not in accordance with the rules.

Meanwhile, similar conditions also occurred in the capitales of Tehran, the cities of Tabriz and Rasht in the north, where security forces were present on city streets, according to eyewitnesses.

The protests sparked by the 22-year-old woman's death have been one of the boldest challenges for the leadership of Iranian clerics since the 1979 revolution.

A large number of Iranians took to the streets, with some calling for the government's fall and chanting "Death (Ayatollah's Supreme Leader Ali) Khamenei".

A witness in Saqez said the grave where Amini was buried was filled with members of the Basij volunteer militia and the police.

"They tried to stop us from entering the cemetery, but I managed to get in. I haven't seen Mahsa's parents yet," the witness said.

Another witness said residents were heading to the scene.

"People have opposed warnings by security forces and went to the cemetery, but there are dozens of riot police and Basij members (voluntary militias)," the witness said.

Video circulating on social media showed people at Saqez's funeral chanting "Death to Khamenei". Others showed security forces blocking the road to the city. Reuters was unable to verify the authenticity of the video.

Earlier, fearing the 40th anniversary of Amini's death would spark further violent protests, security police had warned his family against holding a warning procession, human rights groups said.

Meanwhile, rights groups say at least 250 protesters have been killed, including teenage girls and thousands have been arrested, during the protests.

Iranian authorities have not announced the death toll, but state media say some 30 members of the security forces have died.