Iran suppresses the ongoing nationwide protests with a heavy hand. Hundreds of protesters continue to languish in jails. Some of the protesters had been charged with offenses which could carry death sentences often handed down in a single sitting by the judiciary.

Iran Crackdown: 90 protesters detained, face risk to life; hundreds languish in jails

The death sentence appeal of one protester&nbsp;was accepted by the Iran's Supreme Court while&nbsp;it declined&nbsp;the appeal of another, the judiciary stated on Saturday.&nbsp;Initially, the court had stated that appeals by both the protesters have been accepted, however, later the judiciary's Mizan news agency, in a statement, said, "The public relations of the Supreme Court of Iran has corrected its news: 'The appeal of Mohammad Qabadloo has not been accepted/the ruling has been confirmed. Saman Seydi's appeal has been accepted by the Supreme Court."

Saman Seydi Yasin who raps about inequality, oppression and unemployment, had been accused of attempting to kill security forces, setting a rubbish bin on fire and shooting into the air thrice during anti-government protests.

Iran witnessed nationwide protests from mid-September after 22-year-old Mahsa Amini died in police custody after the morality police arrested her for failing to follow the mandatory dress code laws of the Islamic Republic.

ALSO READ | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/iranians-fearful-executions-will-increase-as-west-remains-preoccupied-with-the-holiday-season-546253">Iranians fearful executions will increase as West remains preoccupied with the holiday season</a>

Earlier this month, two protesters were hanged by Iran. One of them, 23-year-old Mohsen Shekari was held guilty of obstructing the main road in September and hurting the paramilitary Basij force member with a knife.&nbsp;

Meanwhile, 23-year-old Majid Reza Rahnavard, who was held guilty of killing two Basij members, was hanged publicly from a construction crane.

According to Amnesty International, the death penalty is being sought for around 26 people by the Iranian authorities in what it said were "sham trials designed to intimidate those participating in the popular uprising that has rocked Iran". 
 
WATCH| WION Fineprint | Iran to execute footballer

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Qobadloo is facing charges of killing police personnel and hurting five others in the protests. Meanwhile, Yasin, a rapper who raps about unemployment, inequality and oppression, is charged with singing revolutionary songs and attempting to kill security forces and will now be retried.

Speaking about the situation in Iran, the rights group HRANA stated that the authorities have killed 506 protesters till Friday, which includes 69 minors.

(With inputs from agencies)

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The death sentence appeal of one protester was accepted by the Iran's Supreme Court while it declined the appeal of another, the judiciary stated on Saturday. Initially, the court had stated that appeals by both the protesters have been accepted, however, later the judiciary's Mizan news agency, in a statement, said, "The public relations of the Supreme Court of Iran has corrected its news: 'The appeal of Mohammad Qabadloo has not been accepted/the ruling has been confirmed.

The death sentence appeal of one protester was accepted by the Iran's Supreme Court while it declined the appeal of another, the judiciary stated on Saturday. Initially, the court had stated that appeals by both the protesters have been accepted, however, later the judiciary's Mizan news agency, in a statement, said, "The public relations of the Supreme Court of Iran has corrected its news: 'The appeal of Mohammad Qabadloo has not been accepted/the ruling has been confirmed. Saman Seydi's appeal has been accepted by the Supreme Court." Saman Seydi Yasin who raps about inequality, oppression and unemployment, had been accused of attempting to kill security forces, setting a rubbish bin on fire and shooting into the air thrice during anti-government protests. Iran witnessed nationwide protests from mid-September after 22-year-old Mahsa Amini died in police custody after the morality police arrested her for failing to follow the mandatory dress code laws of the Islamic Republic. ALSO READ | Iranians fearful executions will increase as West remains preoccupied with the holiday season Earlier this month, two protesters were hanged by Iran. One of them, 23-year-old Mohsen Shekari was held guilty of obstructing the main road in September and hurting the paramilitary Basij force member with a knife. Meanwhile, 23-year-old Majid Reza Rahnavard, who was held guilty of killing two Basij members, was hanged publicly from a construction crane. According to Amnesty International, the death penalty is being sought for around 26 people by the Iranian authorities in what it said were "sham trials designed to intimidate those participating in the popular uprising that has rocked Iran". WATCH| WION Fineprint | Iran to execute footballer Qobadloo is facing charges of killing police personnel and hurting five others in the protests. Meanwhile, Yasin, a rapper who raps about unemployment, inequality and oppression, is charged with singing revolutionary songs and attempting to kill security forces and will now be retried. Speaking about the situation in Iran, the rights group HRANA stated that the authorities have killed 506 protesters till Friday, which includes 69 minors. (With inputs from agencies)

Iran's Supreme Court upholds death sentence of one protester, accepts rapper Yasin’s appeal

Afghanistan's men have also joined the protest against the Taliban's decision to ban women from pursuing higher education. Male students at Afghanistan's Nangarhar University walked out of their exams in solidarity with their female peers. Videos of universities stopping female students from entering classrooms have taken over the internet.

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Male university students have walked out of their exam in protest against Taliban’s decision to BAN female students from university education. 
 
Several male professors have also resigned so far. 
 
This must happen across the country NOW!<a href="https://t.co/kvvsQdchSu">pic.twitter.com/kvvsQdchSu</a>
— Shabnam Nasimi (@NasimiShabnam) <a href="https://twitter.com/NasimiShabnam/status/1605484208276717569?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">December 21, 2022</a></blockquote>
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To join the protest, the university's male professors have also resigned. Obaidullah Wardak, a professor who served at Kabul University for 10 years, has resigned from his post.&nbsp;

On Tuesday, the Taliban's higher education ministry declared that Afghanistan's women would not be allowed to pursue education with immediate effect. The decision enraged students from universities across Afghanistan.

Women across Afghanistan are protesting on the streets against the decision. A group of female students from Kabul University marched outside the institution, chanting 'either everyone or no one.'&nbsp;

In Kandahar, a university denied their female students to sit for their final examinations.&nbsp;Furthermore, universities in Afghanistan have forcefully dismissed female students from their dormitories. Footages also show women being escorted out of the classroom while male students write their examinations.

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In Kandahar, girls are devastated as they are not allowed to participate in university exams while boys sit in the classroom. <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/LetHerLearn?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#LetHerLearn</a> <a href="https://t.co/KWWSzF54Jv">pic.twitter.com/KWWSzF54Jv</a>
— Habib Khan (@HabibKhanT) <a href="https://twitter.com/HabibKhanT/status/1605465329269972992?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">December 21, 2022</a></blockquote>
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Taliban has banned women from travelling without a male relative or entering gyms and parks.&nbsp;

Taliban's barbaric and backward policies have drawn global attention. Afghans have launched a Twitter campaign with the hashtag #letherlearn. People across the world have made thousands of tweets in support of Afghanistan's women.&nbsp;

Habib Khan, the founder of Afghan Peace Watch, shared a video and tweeted, "Extremely sad and distressing to see these girls cry as they hear that they will no longer be able to continue their studies at the university. Stand with these women and girls of Afghanistan against the Taliban."

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In Kandahar, girls are devastated as they are not allowed to participate in university exams while boys sit in the classroom. <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/LetHerLearn?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#LetHerLearn</a> <a href="https://t.co/KWWSzF54Jv">pic.twitter.com/KWWSzF54Jv</a>
— Habib Khan (@HabibKhanT) <a href="https://twitter.com/HabibKhanT/status/1605465329269972992?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">December 21, 2022</a></blockquote>
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Rashid Khan, former captain of Afghanistan's cricket team, tweeted, "Acquiring knowledge is a must. There is no doubt that women make up half of society."

(With inputs from agencies)

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Afghanistan's men have also joined the protest against the Taliban's decision to ban women from pursuing higher education. Male students at Afghanistan's Nangarhar University walked out of their exams in solidarity with their female peers.

Afghanistan's men have also joined the protest against the Taliban's decision to ban women from pursuing higher education. Male students at Afghanistan's Nangarhar University walked out of their exams in solidarity with their female peers. Videos of universities stopping female students from entering classrooms have taken over the internet. Male university students have walked out of their exam in protest against Taliban’s decision to BAN female students from university education. Several male professors have also resigned so far. This must happen across the country NOW!pic.twitter.com/kvvsQdchSu — Shabnam Nasimi (@NasimiShabnam) December 21, 2022 × To join the protest, the university's male professors have also resigned. Obaidullah Wardak, a professor who served at Kabul University for 10 years, has resigned from his post. On Tuesday, the Taliban's higher education ministry declared that Afghanistan's women would not be allowed to pursue education with immediate effect. The decision enraged students from universities across Afghanistan. Women across Afghanistan are protesting on the streets against the decision. A group of female students from Kabul University marched outside the institution, chanting 'either everyone or no one.' In Kandahar, a university denied their female students to sit for their final examinations. Furthermore, universities in Afghanistan have forcefully dismissed female students from their dormitories. Footages also show women being escorted out of the classroom while male students write their examinations. In Kandahar, girls are devastated as they are not allowed to participate in university exams while boys sit in the classroom. #LetHerLearn pic.twitter.com/KWWSzF54Jv — Habib Khan (@HabibKhanT) December 21, 2022 × Taliban has banned women from travelling without a male relative or entering gyms and parks. Taliban's barbaric and backward policies have drawn global attention. Afghans have launched a Twitter campaign with the hashtag #letherlearn. People across the world have made thousands of tweets in support of Afghanistan's women. Habib Khan, the founder of Afghan Peace Watch, shared a video and tweeted, "Extremely sad and distressing to see these girls cry as they hear that they will no longer be able to continue their studies at the university. Stand with these women and girls of Afghanistan against the Taliban." In Kandahar, girls are devastated as they are not allowed to participate in university exams while boys sit in the classroom. #LetHerLearn pic.twitter.com/KWWSzF54Jv — Habib Khan (@HabibKhanT) December 21, 2022 × Rashid Khan, former captain of Afghanistan's cricket team, tweeted, "Acquiring knowledge is a must. There is no doubt that women make up half of society." (With inputs from agencies) WATCH WION LIVE HERE

WATCH| Male students walk out of exam halls as Taliban ban university education for Afghan women

Protests by dozens of trade union members and disgruntled employees on Thursday (December 22) caused managers of ultra-luxury La Samaritaine shopping store to down shutters. The store is owned by French luxury giant LVMH.

La Samaritaine re-opened in June last year after a 750 million euro facelift and renovation carried out over 16 years.

"La Samaritaine is a symbolic place representing wealth. A lot of employees here cannot allow themselves to buy what they sell," Amar Lagha, from the hard-left CGT union, told AFP.&nbsp;

The union claimed that around 200-300 protesters were involved in the protest.

Wearing red vests with the union's emblem, they could be seen standing among the displays of luxury handbags, make up and clothing even after management shut the store in the morning.

"Almost all of the demonstrators were not employees of la Samaritaine," the store's management said in a statement. "For security reasons, clients and personnel were evacuated."

France has been hit by a series of strikes in different sectors of the economy as employees push for pay hikes in the face of annual inflation of around 6.0 percent.

You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us <a href="https://www.wionews.com/content-contribution-registration-form">here</a>.

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Protests by dozens of trade union members and disgruntled employees on Thursday (December 22) caused managers of ultra-luxury La Samaritaine shopping store to down shutters.

Protests by dozens of trade union members and disgruntled employees on Thursday (December 22) caused managers of ultra-luxury La Samaritaine shopping store to down shutters. The store is owned by French luxury giant LVMH. La Samaritaine re-opened in June last year after a 750 million euro facelift and renovation carried out over 16 years. "La Samaritaine is a symbolic place representing wealth. A lot of employees here cannot allow themselves to buy what they sell," Amar Lagha, from the hard-left CGT union, told AFP. The union claimed that around 200-300 protesters were involved in the protest. Wearing red vests with the union's emblem, they could be seen standing among the displays of luxury handbags, make up and clothing even after management shut the store in the morning. "Almost all of the demonstrators were not employees of la Samaritaine," the store's management said in a statement. "For security reasons, clients and personnel were evacuated." France has been hit by a series of strikes in different sectors of the economy as employees push for pay hikes in the face of annual inflation of around 6.0 percent. You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us here. WATCH WION LIVE HERE ×

Protests cause luxury Paris store La Samaritaine to shut

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan on Saturday said that he had "nothing to do" with the arrest of Istanbul's opposition mayor, because of which the latter won't be able to fray in the presidential election scheduled for June 2023.

The prison sentence of Ekrem Imamoglu, after his politically ignited defamation court trial, stirred an international storm. The mayor has been sentenced to imprisonment for two years and seven months after he insulted the Supreme Electoral Council's members in Turkey. As per reports, in a speech he gave in 2019, the mayor said that “those who cancelled March 31 elections are fools”.&nbsp;

ALSO READ|&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/middle-east/explained-thousands-protest-in-turkey-over-istanbul-mayors-conviction-political-ban-543673">Explained: Thousands protest in Turkey over Istanbul mayor's conviction, political ban</a>

However, President Erdogan maintained that he had no role in the court's verdict.

"What is behind the storm sparked by a verdict these past few days? This debate has nothing to do with us — neither with me nor with our nation," said Erdogan, while making his first comments on the issue since the verdict was given on Wednesday.

"We laugh at all the false words uttered so surely by those seeing a political manoeuvre in the sentence. But we are sad to see that some are trying to conduct their games of thrones through us," he added, indicating that reactions to the court's verdict were a result of rivalries present within the opposition.&nbsp;

WATCH| Turkey: Headscarf debate reaches Parliament; Turkish feminists condemn Erdogan's move

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On Thursday, thousands of people protested in Istanbul in support of Imamoglu, who had established himself as an opposition candidate who can break the two-decade dominance of Erdogan over Turkish politics, after clinching his mayoral success.

The imprisonment of Imamoglu also received international criticism. On Thursday, the United States announced that it is "deeply troubled and disappointed" with his conviction and imposed a ban on any political activity, which eventually denies him to run for the presidency. Meanwhile, Germany called it a "harsh blow for democracy".

(With inputs from agencies)

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Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan on Saturday said that he had "nothing to do" with the arrest of Istanbul's opposition mayor, because of which the latter won't be able to fray in the presidential election scheduled for June 2023.

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan on Saturday said that he had "nothing to do" with the arrest of Istanbul's opposition mayor, because of which the latter won't be able to fray in the presidential election scheduled for June 2023. The prison sentence of Ekrem Imamoglu, after his politically ignited defamation court trial, stirred an international storm. The mayor has been sentenced to imprisonment for two years and seven months after he insulted the Supreme Electoral Council's members in Turkey. As per reports, in a speech he gave in 2019, the mayor said that “those who cancelled March 31 elections are fools”. ALSO READ| Explained: Thousands protest in Turkey over Istanbul mayor's conviction, political ban However, President Erdogan maintained that he had no role in the court's verdict. "What is behind the storm sparked by a verdict these past few days? This debate has nothing to do with us — neither with me nor with our nation," said Erdogan, while making his first comments on the issue since the verdict was given on Wednesday. "We laugh at all the false words uttered so surely by those seeing a political manoeuvre in the sentence. But we are sad to see that some are trying to conduct their games of thrones through us," he added, indicating that reactions to the court's verdict were a result of rivalries present within the opposition. WATCH| Turkey: Headscarf debate reaches Parliament; Turkish feminists condemn Erdogan's move On Thursday, thousands of people protested in Istanbul in support of Imamoglu, who had established himself as an opposition candidate who can break the two-decade dominance of Erdogan over Turkish politics, after clinching his mayoral success. The imprisonment of Imamoglu also received international criticism. On Thursday, the United States announced that it is "deeply troubled and disappointed" with his conviction and imposed a ban on any political activity, which eventually denies him to run for the presidency. Meanwhile, Germany called it a "harsh blow for democracy". (With inputs from agencies)

President Erdogan says he has ‘nothing to do’ with conviction of Istanbul’s mayor

A day after a police officer was killed during clashes with demonstrators over high petrol prices, Jordan said on Friday that it was placing a "temporary ban" on the social media app TikTok. Last week, truckers went on strike to protest the exorbitant cost of fuel in the Arab nation. Many cities in Jordan have experienced the strike and protests. On Thursday, there were clashes in numerous places, and police used tear gas to break them up.&nbsp;

Videos of the&nbsp;protests went viral on&nbsp;TikTok and Jordan’s Public Security Directorate said on Friday it was banning&nbsp;the popular short-form video application “after its misuse and failing to deal with publications inciting violence and disorder.”

Internet was also disrupted in the cities of Maan, where the police officer was killed, and Karak.&nbsp;

Meanwhile, King Abdullah II of Jordan affirmed&nbsp;to “deal firmly” with the situation.

“We will not tolerate violence against our security personnel, who work day and night to protect Jordan and Jordanians,” he said in a statement released by the Royal Court.

The deputy police director in the city of Maan, Abdul Razzaq Abdel Hafez Al Dalabeh, was shot and killed on Thursday. The king visited the family to offer his condolences.

Jordan has long been regarded as an oasis of stability in a volatile area and is a close ally of the West.

(With inputs from agencies)

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A day after a police officer was killed during clashes with demonstrators over high petrol prices, Jordan said on Friday that it was placing a "temporary ban" on the social media app TikTok.

A day after a police officer was killed during clashes with demonstrators over high petrol prices, Jordan said on Friday that it was placing a "temporary ban" on the social media app TikTok. Last week, truckers went on strike to protest the exorbitant cost of fuel in the Arab nation. Many cities in Jordan have experienced the strike and protests. On Thursday, there were clashes in numerous places, and police used tear gas to break them up. Videos of the protests went viral on TikTok and Jordan’s Public Security Directorate said on Friday it was banning the popular short-form video application “after its misuse and failing to deal with publications inciting violence and disorder.” Internet was also disrupted in the cities of Maan, where the police officer was killed, and Karak. Meanwhile, King Abdullah II of Jordan affirmed to “deal firmly” with the situation. “We will not tolerate violence against our security personnel, who work day and night to protect Jordan and Jordanians,” he said in a statement released by the Royal Court. The deputy police director in the city of Maan, Abdul Razzaq Abdel Hafez Al Dalabeh, was shot and killed on Thursday. The king visited the family to offer his condolences. Jordan has long been regarded as an oasis of stability in a volatile area and is a close ally of the West. (With inputs from agencies) WATCH WION LIVE HERE:

Jordan suspends TikTok, condemns app for ‘inciting violence and disorder’ amid protests

The prison term of former Peruvian President Pedro Castillo was extended by 18 months as diplomatic tensions deepened with the region’s left-leaning nations that stand against his removal.

The Supreme Court’s judicial panel on Thursday ruled that the former president, who was initially put behind bars for seven days, will remain in prison as investigations into the criminal charges levied against him are being carried out by the prosecutors.

The ruling did not refer to the merits of the accusations of conspiracy and rebellion being faced by the leader, however, a judge leading the panel said that Castillo faced a flight risk after an attempt was made by him to seek asylum at the Mexican embassy in Lima.

ALSO READ|&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/peru-declares-state-of-emergency-amid-nationwide-protests-543113">Peru declares state of emergency amid nationwide protests</a>

All the charges levied against the former president were denied by him as he claimed that he is a lawful president of the country. However, the detention order of Castillo was extended till June 2024.

Meanwhile, Castillo’s supporters and relatives on Thursday protested outside the Barbadillo penitentiary, demanding the ousted leader’s release. The relatives of Castillo visited him on Thursday, after which they informed the media that the leader "is not well".

"His hands started shaking, his face was shaking, and we bought him pills," Castillo's niece Vilma Castillo said while standing outside the jail. The protesters shouted in support of Castillo and slammed interim President Dina Boluarte for her actions and accused her of being a traitor.

WATCH|&nbsp;Two killed in Peru as protests spread against the new president

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Authorities stated that ten protesters, which included mostly teenagers, lost their lives in clashes with police officials. According to rights groups, they were a victim of gunfire.

Meanwhile, highways were blocked, buildings were set on fire and airports were invaded by the demonstrators.

Castillo, who had clinched victory in elections by a narrow margin last year, was removed after lawmakers voted against him just hours after he had ordered the dissolution of the Congress on December 7.

(With inputs from agencies)

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The prison term of former Peruvian President Pedro Castillo was extended by 18 months as diplomatic tensions deepened with the region’s left-leaning nations that stand against his removal.

The prison term of former Peruvian President Pedro Castillo was extended by 18 months as diplomatic tensions deepened with the region’s left-leaning nations that stand against his removal. The Supreme Court’s judicial panel on Thursday ruled that the former president, who was initially put behind bars for seven days, will remain in prison as investigations into the criminal charges levied against him are being carried out by the prosecutors. The ruling did not refer to the merits of the accusations of conspiracy and rebellion being faced by the leader, however, a judge leading the panel said that Castillo faced a flight risk after an attempt was made by him to seek asylum at the Mexican embassy in Lima. ALSO READ| Peru declares state of emergency amid nationwide protests All the charges levied against the former president were denied by him as he claimed that he is a lawful president of the country. However, the detention order of Castillo was extended till June 2024. Meanwhile, Castillo’s supporters and relatives on Thursday protested outside the Barbadillo penitentiary, demanding the ousted leader’s release. The relatives of Castillo visited him on Thursday, after which they informed the media that the leader "is not well". "His hands started shaking, his face was shaking, and we bought him pills," Castillo's niece Vilma Castillo said while standing outside the jail. The protesters shouted in support of Castillo and slammed interim President Dina Boluarte for her actions and accused her of being a traitor. WATCH| Two killed in Peru as protests spread against the new president Authorities stated that ten protesters, which included mostly teenagers, lost their lives in clashes with police officials. According to rights groups, they were a victim of gunfire. Meanwhile, highways were blocked, buildings were set on fire and airports were invaded by the demonstrators. Castillo, who had clinched victory in elections by a narrow margin last year, was removed after lawmakers voted against him just hours after he had ordered the dissolution of the Congress on December 7. (With inputs from agencies)

Former Peru president Pedro Castillo's jail term extended by 18 months

Thousands of people took to the streets in Turkey’s most populous city in protest after its Mayor, Ekrem Imamoglu, was convicted on Wednesday. The opposition party candidate was sentenced to two years and seven months in prison by a court in Istanbul. This comes ahead of the country’s presidential and parliamentary elections in June 2023.&nbsp;

Ekrem Imamoglu’s rise to power

Elected in 2019, Imamoglu is a candidate from Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan’s main opposition party, the Republican People’s Party (CHP). The 52-year-old politician’s win marked a historic blow to the president’s Justice and Development Party (AK Party)&nbsp;as it witnessed&nbsp;one of the biggest losses since it first came into power in 2002.&nbsp;

The election in which Imamoglu won was also a turning point because the defeat marked the second loss of the AK Party in three months after they had called for a rerun after citing irregularities, ending the ruling party's and its predecessor Welfare Party’s more than 25-year rule over the city.&nbsp;

ALSO READ |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/turkey-under-erdogan-caught-between-democracy-and-dictatorship-333285">Turkey under Erdogan: Caught between democracy and dictatorship</a> 
 
Notably, Erdogan had also first risen to prominence after becoming the mayor of Istanbul in 1994 after which he continued to remain in power since 2003 first as a prime minister and then as a&nbsp;president in 2014. However, ahead of the upcoming elections, different polls have shown that his approval ratings have plunged, which has been attributed to the economic turmoil, high cost of living and inflation being more than 84 per cent.&nbsp;

On the other hand, reports suggest that the incumbent president’s ratings have somewhat recovered after the Russian invasion of Ukraine which could pose a challenge to its six-party alliance opposition.&nbsp;

Why was he convicted?

An Istanbul court has sentenced Imamoglu to two years and seven months in prison for insulting the members of Turkey’s Supreme Electoral Council. Reportedly, during a speech he gave in&nbsp;2019, he told the media that “those who cancelled March 31 elections are fools”. The election in question was the one in which Imamoglu had narrowly defeated AK Party candidate and&nbsp;former Prime Minister Binali Yildirim.&nbsp;

Subsequently, his victory was cancelled following allegations of irregularities by the ruling party, in May, by the Turkish Higher Electoral Board. However, after the rerun in June, later that year, he won in a landslide with more than 800,000 votes. After his win, he had given a speech in which he made the aforementioned remarks and was later tried for defamation.&nbsp;

ALSO WATCH |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/videos/turkey-anti-erdogan-protests-rock-istanbul-373945">Turkey: Anti-Erdogan protests rock Istanbul</a>

However, the incumbent Istanbul mayor has argued that his remarks were made in response to Interior Minister Suleyman Soylu who had used the same language against him and not as an insult to the country’s electoral council. Soylu while referring to Imamoglu’s visit to European Parliament, had said, “I am saying this to the fool going and complaining about Turkey to the European Parliament.”&nbsp;

Notably, neither politician mentioned the other by name and nor did the Istanbul mayor mention the country’s electoral council. During the trial, the court also heard from Imamoglu’s press officer, Murat Ongun, who confirmed that his remarks were in reference to Soylu’s accusation that the mayor had insulted the country in the European parliament.&nbsp;

“Either before or after this event, or even on May 6 (2019), when the elections were canceled, I did not hear any negative words from Ekrem Imamoglu concerning the members,” reported the T24 Turkish&nbsp;news website quoting Ongun. However, Soylu has since taken to social media and asserted that was not the case and Imamoglu’s comments were directed toward the members of the Supreme Electoral Council.&nbsp;

ALSO READ |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/opinions-blogs/wion-spotlight-modi-erdogan-meet-lifts-up-india-turkiye-ties-518745">WION Spotlight | Modi-Erdogan meet lifts up India-Turkiye ties</a>

Furthermore, Soylu's allegations refer to the speech Imamoglu gave to the Council of Europe Local and Regional Authorities on October 30, 2019, criticising the government’s decision to cancel elections and not the European Parliament, said a statement by Human Rights Watch. Meanwhile, the Istanbul mayor’s legal team has decided to appeal his conviction. Meanwhile, a jail sentence or political ban will need to be upheld in the appeals court.&nbsp;

The political ban could also lead the mayor of the most populous city in the country to be ousted from office and even potentially bar him from running in the upcoming elections. Additionally, since the case will go to the appeals court it could extend the outcome of the case until next year’s election.&nbsp;

Notably, Imamoglu may not actually go to prison since people who are sentenced to less than four years are rarely put behind bars in Turkey and may also continue his tenure as Istanbul’s mayor while his case is being appealed in the courts. However, media reports suggest that the prosecutor has challenged the verdict and sought a longer sentence for Imamoglu.&nbsp;

ALSO WATCH |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/videos/inflation-jumps-50-as-turkey-protests-against-hiked-energy-prices-452010">Inflation jumps 50% as Turkey protests against hiked energy prices</a>

Widespread protests in Istanbul&nbsp;

So far, thousands of Imamoglu supporters on Wednesday and Thursday gathered outside Istanbul municipal building in protest and denounced the verdict.&nbsp;Leaders of the alliance of six opposition parties and Imamoglu joined the thousands of protesters, as patriotic music was played with many waving the Turkish flag.

The crowd was also reportedly chanting, “Rights, law, justice...The day will come when the AKP is called to account,” while a banner showing a huge portrait of Mustafa Kemal Ataturk, Turkey's founder whose secular principles Erdogan's opponents and critics say are under threat, was unfurled at the municipal building.&nbsp;

ALSO WATCH |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/videos/istanbul-mayor-and-erdogan-rival-imamoglu-sentenced-to-jail-543274">Istanbul mayor and Erdogan rival Imamoglu sentenced to jail</a>

“I am absolutely not afraid of their illegitimate verdict…I don’t have judges to protect me, but I have 16 million Istanbulites and our nation behind me,” said the city’s mayor while addressing the crowd gathered. He added, “You beat them two times already and you'll do it again…We will change this order in the election next year.”&nbsp;

A day prior, hundreds had taken to the streets demanding that Erdogan's government resign after the mayor was convicted. Imamoglu reportedly addressed the crowd standing on top of a bus and called the verdict unlawful and proof that “there is no justice in today’s Turkey”. However, the country’s Justice Minister Bekir Bozdag, said that the ruling had nothing to do with politics and asserted the independence of the country’s judiciary.&nbsp;

ALSO READ |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/turkish-president-erdogan-feels-the-heat-of-student-protests-355225">Turkish President Erdogan feels the heat of student protests</a>

The upcoming elections are crucial since they could prove to be one of the biggest challenges for Erdogan’s over two decades in power, his fall in ratings&nbsp;has predominantly been attributed to the economy. Earlier this week, the lira also fell against the dollar marking a record low. Meanwhile, polls have also indicated that Imamoglu has the potential to unseat Erdogan, in the upcoming election, should he be nominated as a candidate by the opposition alliance.&nbsp;

How have other countries reacted to the verdict?

The backlash due to the verdict has not been limited to Turkey’s people as it has also garnered international criticism from several countries and rights organisations. The European Union spokesperson Peter Stano called the sentence “disproportionate” and said that this incident confirms the systemic lack of independence of the judiciary as well as the “undue political pressure on judges and prosecutors” in the country.&nbsp;

ALSO WATCH |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/videos/supporters-of-banned-mayor-imamoglu-rally-in-istanbul-543555">Supporters of banned mayor Imamoglu rally in Istanbul</a>

Meanwhile, the US State Department spokesperson, Vedant Patel, said that they are “deeply troubled and disappointed” after the verdict and called it “unjust and inconsistent” with human rights, fundamental freedoms and rule of law. In a statement, the New York-based rights watchdog, Human Rights Watch, said that the verdict against the mayor is a “travesty of justice”. &nbsp;

They also said that it is an “attack on the democratic process, demonstrating that as the 2023 elections approach the government is prepared to misuse courts to sideline or silence key opposition figures,” which violates not only Imamoglu’s rights but voters in Istanbul by depriving them of their elected representative.&nbsp; 
&nbsp;

(With inputs from agencies)&nbsp;

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Thousands of people took to the streets in Turkey’s most populous city in protest after its Mayor, Ekrem Imamoglu, was convicted on Wednesday. The opposition party candidate was sentenced to two years and seven months in prison by a court in Istanbul.

Thousands of people took to the streets in Turkey’s most populous city in protest after its Mayor, Ekrem Imamoglu, was convicted on Wednesday. The opposition party candidate was sentenced to two years and seven months in prison by a court in Istanbul. This comes ahead of the country’s presidential and parliamentary elections in June 2023. Ekrem Imamoglu’s rise to power Elected in 2019, Imamoglu is a candidate from Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan’s main opposition party, the Republican People’s Party (CHP). The 52-year-old politician’s win marked a historic blow to the president’s Justice and Development Party (AK Party) as it witnessed one of the biggest losses since it first came into power in 2002. The election in which Imamoglu won was also a turning point because the defeat marked the second loss of the AK Party in three months after they had called for a rerun after citing irregularities, ending the ruling party's and its predecessor Welfare Party’s more than 25-year rule over the city. ALSO READ | Turkey under Erdogan: Caught between democracy and dictatorship Notably, Erdogan had also first risen to prominence after becoming the mayor of Istanbul in 1994 after which he continued to remain in power since 2003 first as a prime minister and then as a president in 2014. However, ahead of the upcoming elections, different polls have shown that his approval ratings have plunged, which has been attributed to the economic turmoil, high cost of living and inflation being more than 84 per cent. On the other hand, reports suggest that the incumbent president’s ratings have somewhat recovered after the Russian invasion of Ukraine which could pose a challenge to its six-party alliance opposition. Why was he convicted? An Istanbul court has sentenced Imamoglu to two years and seven months in prison for insulting the members of Turkey’s Supreme Electoral Council. Reportedly, during a speech he gave in 2019, he told the media that “those who cancelled March 31 elections are fools”. The election in question was the one in which Imamoglu had narrowly defeated AK Party candidate and former Prime Minister Binali Yildirim. Subsequently, his victory was cancelled following allegations of irregularities by the ruling party, in May, by the Turkish Higher Electoral Board. However, after the rerun in June, later that year, he won in a landslide with more than 800,000 votes. After his win, he had given a speech in which he made the aforementioned remarks and was later tried for defamation. ALSO WATCH | Turkey: Anti-Erdogan protests rock Istanbul However, the incumbent Istanbul mayor has argued that his remarks were made in response to Interior Minister Suleyman Soylu who had used the same language against him and not as an insult to the country’s electoral council. Soylu while referring to Imamoglu’s visit to European Parliament, had said, “I am saying this to the fool going and complaining about Turkey to the European Parliament.” Notably, neither politician mentioned the other by name and nor did the Istanbul mayor mention the country’s electoral council. During the trial, the court also heard from Imamoglu’s press officer, Murat Ongun, who confirmed that his remarks were in reference to Soylu’s accusation that the mayor had insulted the country in the European parliament. “Either before or after this event, or even on May 6 (2019), when the elections were canceled, I did not hear any negative words from Ekrem Imamoglu concerning the members,” reported the T24 Turkish news website quoting Ongun. However, Soylu has since taken to social media and asserted that was not the case and Imamoglu’s comments were directed toward the members of the Supreme Electoral Council. ALSO READ | WION Spotlight | Modi-Erdogan meet lifts up India-Turkiye ties Furthermore, Soylu's allegations refer to the speech Imamoglu gave to the Council of Europe Local and Regional Authorities on October 30, 2019, criticising the government’s decision to cancel elections and not the European Parliament, said a statement by Human Rights Watch. Meanwhile, the Istanbul mayor’s legal team has decided to appeal his conviction. Meanwhile, a jail sentence or political ban will need to be upheld in the appeals court. The political ban could also lead the mayor of the most populous city in the country to be ousted from office and even potentially bar him from running in the upcoming elections. Additionally, since the case will go to the appeals court it could extend the outcome of the case until next year’s election. Notably, Imamoglu may not actually go to prison since people who are sentenced to less than four years are rarely put behind bars in Turkey and may also continue his tenure as Istanbul’s mayor while his case is being appealed in the courts. However, media reports suggest that the prosecutor has challenged the verdict and sought a longer sentence for Imamoglu. ALSO WATCH | Inflation jumps 50% as Turkey protests against hiked energy prices Widespread protests in Istanbul So far, thousands of Imamoglu supporters on Wednesday and Thursday gathered outside Istanbul municipal building in protest and denounced the verdict. Leaders of the alliance of six opposition parties and Imamoglu joined the thousands of protesters, as patriotic music was played with many waving the Turkish flag. The crowd was also reportedly chanting, “Rights, law, justice...The day will come when the AKP is called to account,” while a banner showing a huge portrait of Mustafa Kemal Ataturk, Turkey's founder whose secular principles Erdogan's opponents and critics say are under threat, was unfurled at the municipal building. ALSO WATCH | Istanbul mayor and Erdogan rival Imamoglu sentenced to jail “I am absolutely not afraid of their illegitimate verdict…I don’t have judges to protect me, but I have 16 million Istanbulites and our nation behind me,” said the city’s mayor while addressing the crowd gathered. He added, “You beat them two times already and you'll do it again…We will change this order in the election next year.” A day prior, hundreds had taken to the streets demanding that Erdogan's government resign after the mayor was convicted. Imamoglu reportedly addressed the crowd standing on top of a bus and called the verdict unlawful and proof that “there is no justice in today’s Turkey”. However, the country’s Justice Minister Bekir Bozdag, said that the ruling had nothing to do with politics and asserted the independence of the country’s judiciary. ALSO READ | Turkish President Erdogan feels the heat of student protests The upcoming elections are crucial since they could prove to be one of the biggest challenges for Erdogan’s over two decades in power, his fall in ratings has predominantly been attributed to the economy. Earlier this week, the lira also fell against the dollar marking a record low. Meanwhile, polls have also indicated that Imamoglu has the potential to unseat Erdogan, in the upcoming election, should he be nominated as a candidate by the opposition alliance. How have other countries reacted to the verdict? The backlash due to the verdict has not been limited to Turkey’s people as it has also garnered international criticism from several countries and rights organisations. The European Union spokesperson Peter Stano called the sentence “disproportionate” and said that this incident confirms the systemic lack of independence of the judiciary as well as the “undue political pressure on judges and prosecutors” in the country. ALSO WATCH | Supporters of banned mayor Imamoglu rally in Istanbul Meanwhile, the US State Department spokesperson, Vedant Patel, said that they are “deeply troubled and disappointed” after the verdict and called it “unjust and inconsistent” with human rights, fundamental freedoms and rule of law. In a statement, the New York-based rights watchdog, Human Rights Watch, said that the verdict against the mayor is a “travesty of justice”. They also said that it is an “attack on the democratic process, demonstrating that as the 2023 elections approach the government is prepared to misuse courts to sideline or silence key opposition figures,” which violates not only Imamoglu’s rights but voters in Istanbul by depriving them of their elected representative. (With inputs from agencies) WATCH WION LIVE HERE You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us here.

Explained: Thousands protest in Turkey over Istanbul mayor's conviction, political ban

Peru on Wednesday declared a 30-day nationwide state of emergency in the wake of protests that have rocked the country in the tumultuous days since President Pedro Castillo was removed from office.

Peru declares nationwide state of emergency amid protests

Amid deadly protests against the ousting of former president Pedro Castillo on Wednesday, which have so far claimed seven lives, Peru announced a state of emergency throughout the country. A court had&nbsp;ruled that Castillo must spend an additional 48 hours in jail before a hearing on his release due to allegations of conspiracy and rebellion. After Castillo attempted to dissolve congress and govern by decree and was arrested last week, there were days of widespread protest&nbsp;that soon snowballed into bloodshed.

The new 30-day state of emergency was declared by Defense Minister Alberto Otarola in response to "violent acts, road obstructions, and damage."

The measure, according to him, "involves the restriction of the freedom of movement and assembly" and may potentially entail a curfew at night.

By requesting that elections be pushed up to December 2023, the new president, Dina Boluarte, attempted to defuse tensions once more.

Also watch |&nbsp;Peru’s new President Dina Boluarte proposes early elections after protests

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Boluarte had previously said on Sunday that she would work to move the 2026 election to 2024, but that did not placate Castillo's supporters, who demanded that he be released immediately and elections be held then.

Castillo was supposed to be released on Wednesday after a court last week ordered him to be detained for seven days.

Prosecutors, however, asked to keep him in pre-trial custody for 18 months in a late Tuesday filing.

Defense counsel stated that they had not received all of the documents from the public prosecutor on Wednesday, so Judge Juan Checkley decided to postpone the hearing on the new motion until Thursday.

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/node/542122">Under pressure, new Peru Prez Boluarte moving up general elections to Apr 2024</a>

He also mandated that Castillo be held in custody for a further 48 hours.

In the politically unstable South American country, where Castillo, a Marxist former teacher, only in office for 17 months, the country is currently on its sixth president in six years.

Six investigations into him and his family, primarily for corruption, and a power struggle with the opposition-dominated Congress characterise his brief term in government.

(With inputs from agencies)

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Amid deadly protests against the ousting of former president Pedro Castillo on Wednesday, which have so far claimed seven lives, Peru announced a state of emergency throughout the country.

Amid deadly protests against the ousting of former president Pedro Castillo on Wednesday, which have so far claimed seven lives, Peru announced a state of emergency throughout the country. A court had ruled that Castillo must spend an additional 48 hours in jail before a hearing on his release due to allegations of conspiracy and rebellion. After Castillo attempted to dissolve congress and govern by decree and was arrested last week, there were days of widespread protest that soon snowballed into bloodshed. The new 30-day state of emergency was declared by Defense Minister Alberto Otarola in response to "violent acts, road obstructions, and damage." The measure, according to him, "involves the restriction of the freedom of movement and assembly" and may potentially entail a curfew at night. By requesting that elections be pushed up to December 2023, the new president, Dina Boluarte, attempted to defuse tensions once more. Also watch | Peru’s new President Dina Boluarte proposes early elections after protests Boluarte had previously said on Sunday that she would work to move the 2026 election to 2024, but that did not placate Castillo's supporters, who demanded that he be released immediately and elections be held then. Castillo was supposed to be released on Wednesday after a court last week ordered him to be detained for seven days. Prosecutors, however, asked to keep him in pre-trial custody for 18 months in a late Tuesday filing. Defense counsel stated that they had not received all of the documents from the public prosecutor on Wednesday, so Judge Juan Checkley decided to postpone the hearing on the new motion until Thursday. Also read | Under pressure, new Peru Prez Boluarte moving up general elections to Apr 2024 He also mandated that Castillo be held in custody for a further 48 hours. In the politically unstable South American country, where Castillo, a Marxist former teacher, only in office for 17 months, the country is currently on its sixth president in six years. Six investigations into him and his family, primarily for corruption, and a power struggle with the opposition-dominated Congress characterise his brief term in government. (With inputs from agencies) WATCH WION LIVE HERE:

Peru declares state of emergency amid nationwide protests

The United States on Monday (December 12) denounced second execution carried out in Iran over ongoing protests. The US said the latest execution, carried out in public, showed that Iran's clerical regime feared its own people.

"We denounce this draconian treatment in the strongest terms," State Department spokesman Ned Price told reporters.

"These harsh sentences, and now the first public execution at least, are meant to intimidate Iran's people, they're meant to suppress dissent and they simply just underscore how much the Iranian leadership actually fears its own people," he said.

WION Fineprint | Saudi: All bets off if Iran gets Nukes

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At the United Nations, spokesman Stephane Dujarric called for a halt to executions, saying "there's no place for capital punishment."

Secretary-General Antonio Guterres "believed that the circumstances of this were particularly cruel," Dujarric said.

Majidreza Rahnavard, 23, had been sentenced to death by a court in the city of Mashhad for killing two members of the security forces with a knife, and wounding four other people, the judiciary's Mizan Online news agency reported.

It said he was hanged in public in the city, rather than inside prison.

Also Read | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/iran-executes-second-protester-in-less-than-a-week-rights-group-claim-450-killed-in-protests-542169">Iran executes second protester in less than a week; rights group claims 450 killed in protests</a>

Iran has been rocked by protests since the month of September when 22-year-old Mahsa Amini was detained by Iran's morality police over her 'inappropriate' attire. Her custodial death caused an uproar among people across the country that resulted in protests that have even called for the clerical regime to step down.

(With inputs from agencies)

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The United States on Monday (December 12) denounced second execution carried out in Iran over ongoing protests. The US said the latest execution, carried out in public, showed that Iran's clerical regime feared its own people.

The United States on Monday (December 12) denounced second execution carried out in Iran over ongoing protests. The US said the latest execution, carried out in public, showed that Iran's clerical regime feared its own people. "We denounce this draconian treatment in the strongest terms," State Department spokesman Ned Price told reporters. "These harsh sentences, and now the first public execution at least, are meant to intimidate Iran's people, they're meant to suppress dissent and they simply just underscore how much the Iranian leadership actually fears its own people," he said. WION Fineprint | Saudi: All bets off if Iran gets Nukes × At the United Nations, spokesman Stephane Dujarric called for a halt to executions, saying "there's no place for capital punishment." Secretary-General Antonio Guterres "believed that the circumstances of this were particularly cruel," Dujarric said. Majidreza Rahnavard, 23, had been sentenced to death by a court in the city of Mashhad for killing two members of the security forces with a knife, and wounding four other people, the judiciary's Mizan Online news agency reported. It said he was hanged in public in the city, rather than inside prison. Also Read | Iran executes second protester in less than a week; rights group claims 450 killed in protests Iran has been rocked by protests since the month of September when 22-year-old Mahsa Amini was detained by Iran's morality police over her 'inappropriate' attire. Her custodial death caused an uproar among people across the country that resulted in protests that have even called for the clerical regime to step down. (With inputs from agencies) You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us here. WATCH WION LIVE HERE ×

Iran leadership 'fears own people,' says US after second execution

In the wake of escalating tensions and protests in Peru after ouster of former president Pedro Castillo, President Dina Boluarte on Monday said she will propose a bill to Congress to push forward general elections to April 2024.&nbsp;

While addressing the nation, Boluarte said, "I have decided to present a bill to reach an agreement with Congress to bring forward the general elections to April 2024.”

The president's statement of presenting the bill in the days ahead comes after two teenagers died and four others were injured on Sunday as protests calling for conducting general elections escalated in Peru.

ALSO READ|&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/perus-new-president-boluarte-announces-cabinet-as-protests-intensify-541945">Peru's President Boluarte names cabinet, makes ministers take pledge against corruption</a>

Last week, Boluarte was sworn in as the president of Peru after Congress sacked Castillo and arrested him for making efforts to dissolve the legislature so that the impeachment vote against him can be prevented.

Protesters, which include supporters of Castillo, have been demanding fresh elections for days, instead of allowing Boluarte to serve as the president till the term of Castillo ends in 2026.&nbsp;

Some protesters also demanded that Congress should be shuttered.

While speaking to local radio station RPP, the Head of Peru's ombudsman's office Eliana Revollar said that an 18-year-old and a 15-year-old were killed during protesters' clashes with police Andahuaylas, the city located in Apurimac's Andean region "possibly as a result of gunshot wounds."

ALSO READ|&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/peru-president-castillo-dissolves-congress-just-ahead-of-impeachment-debate-541052">Peru gets its first female president in Dina Boluarte after Pedro Castillo is impeached and arrested</a>

Apurimac region's governor Baltazar Lantaron said that "four injuries are reported, treated at the health centre, three of them (with wounds) to the scalp, with multiple injuries".

The Peruvian Corporation of Airports and Commercial Aviation, which is managing the airports of the country, reported Andahuaylas airport's closure after acts of vandalism and attacks were carried out last Saturday.

It stated that the transmitter room was set on fire by protesters which is important for providing navigation services,

On Saturday, the ombudsman's office informed that protesters had held two police officers for hours in Andahuaylas, however, they were later released. On Saturday, the clashes with protesters injured 16 civilians and four policemen, it added.

(With inputs from agencies)

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In the wake of escalating tensions and protests in Peru after ouster of former president Pedro Castillo, President Dina Boluarte on Monday said she will propose a bill to Congress to push forward general elections to April 2024.

In the wake of escalating tensions and protests in Peru after ouster of former president Pedro Castillo, President Dina Boluarte on Monday said she will propose a bill to Congress to push forward general elections to April 2024. While addressing the nation, Boluarte said, "I have decided to present a bill to reach an agreement with Congress to bring forward the general elections to April 2024.” The president's statement of presenting the bill in the days ahead comes after two teenagers died and four others were injured on Sunday as protests calling for conducting general elections escalated in Peru. ALSO READ| Peru's President Boluarte names cabinet, makes ministers take pledge against corruption Last week, Boluarte was sworn in as the president of Peru after Congress sacked Castillo and arrested him for making efforts to dissolve the legislature so that the impeachment vote against him can be prevented. Protesters, which include supporters of Castillo, have been demanding fresh elections for days, instead of allowing Boluarte to serve as the president till the term of Castillo ends in 2026. Some protesters also demanded that Congress should be shuttered. While speaking to local radio station RPP, the Head of Peru's ombudsman's office Eliana Revollar said that an 18-year-old and a 15-year-old were killed during protesters' clashes with police Andahuaylas, the city located in Apurimac's Andean region "possibly as a result of gunshot wounds." ALSO READ| Peru gets its first female president in Dina Boluarte after Pedro Castillo is impeached and arrested Apurimac region's governor Baltazar Lantaron said that "four injuries are reported, treated at the health centre, three of them (with wounds) to the scalp, with multiple injuries". The Peruvian Corporation of Airports and Commercial Aviation, which is managing the airports of the country, reported Andahuaylas airport's closure after acts of vandalism and attacks were carried out last Saturday. It stated that the transmitter room was set on fire by protesters which is important for providing navigation services, On Saturday, the ombudsman's office informed that protesters had held two police officers for hours in Andahuaylas, however, they were later released. On Saturday, the clashes with protesters injured 16 civilians and four policemen, it added. (With inputs from agencies)

Under pressure, new Peru Prez Boluarte moving up general elections to Apr  2024

According to reports, over 450 protesters including 63 children have died so far since the nationwide protests broke out in Iran on September 16 this year. The protesters are demanding freedom and equality for themselves while asking the death sentence for the oppressors.

Report: Over 450 protesters killed in Iran, 63 children lost lives

Protests against Peru's new government turned deadly on Sunday, with two people killed as police clashed with angry demonstrators calling for a national strike, fresh elections and the release of detained former president Pedro Castillo.

Two killed in Peru as protests spread against the new president

Kosovo Serba and the country's police exchanged gunfire after tensions flared up in the volatile northern part of the country on Saturday. The Serbs from Kosovo's North blocked main roads in the region.

Kosovo: Serbs blocked roads in protest against arrest of a Serb policeman

Peru's President Dina Boluarte announced the cabinet on Saturday and asked every minister to take the anti-corruption pledge.&nbsp;The president asked all the 17 ministers to swear that they will deliver their duties “loyally and faithfully without committing acts of corruption”.&nbsp;

For taking the anti-corruption pledge, the cabinet ministers knelt before the president, wearing red-and-white sashes around their waists. When the ministers answered the president's question, a large crucifix was placed in front of them.&nbsp;

ALSO READ|&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/peru-president-castillo-dissolves-congress-just-ahead-of-impeachment-debate-541052">Peru gets its first female president in Dina Boluarte after Pedro Castillo is impeached and arrested</a>

The president swore in the 17 cabinet ministers, which included a pro-market finance minister, amid intensifying protests across the nation calling for fresh elections after the ouster of former president Pedro Castillo.

Boluarte took the president's office on Wednesday after Congress sacked Castillo, who was later arrested on conspiracy and rebellion charges for making attempts to dissolve the legislature, hours before the former president was set to face an impeachment vote.&nbsp;

The first female president of Peru, Boluarte, assigned the post of economy minister to former Deputy Finance Minister Alex Contreras, who is known to have a pro-market stance and is a career civil servant.&nbsp;

Chemical engineer Oscar Vera was given the post of energy and mines minister, which is an important post in copper-producing Peru.

WATCH|

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In a televised address, President Boluarte said, "I have worked hard to form a cabinet for unity and democratic consolidation that meets the needs of the country. I call for calm, tranquility and peace. Let us avoid conflicts that put our brotherhood as Peruvians at risk."

Former state prosecutor Pedro Angulo was named as the prime minister by the president and diplomat Ana Cecilia Gervasi was given the portfolio of foreign minister.

The 60-year-old lawyer, President Boluarte, earlier served as vice president of Castillo. If no new elections are held in the country, the Boluarte will remain in office till 2026.

Castillo's lawyer has denied the charges levied against him and said that the detention of the former president is arbitrary and illegal.&nbsp;

A request has been made for the former president's asylum in Mexico and the government authorities in Mexico and Peru are holding consultations over the request, the foreign minister of Mexico said on Thursday.&nbsp;

Meanwhile, protesters across the country are demanding Congress' closure and holding fresh democratic elections to elect a new leader and not let Boluarte finish Castillo's term. The protesters are also raising demands for a new Constitution to be drafted.&nbsp;

(With inputs from agencies)

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Peru's President Dina Boluarte announced the cabinet on Saturday and asked every minister to take the anti-corruption pledge. The president asked all the 17 ministers to swear that they will deliver their duties “loyally and faithfully without committing acts of corruption”.

Peru's President Dina Boluarte announced the cabinet on Saturday and asked every minister to take the anti-corruption pledge. The president asked all the 17 ministers to swear that they will deliver their duties “loyally and faithfully without committing acts of corruption”. For taking the anti-corruption pledge, the cabinet ministers knelt before the president, wearing red-and-white sashes around their waists. When the ministers answered the president's question, a large crucifix was placed in front of them. ALSO READ| Peru gets its first female president in Dina Boluarte after Pedro Castillo is impeached and arrested The president swore in the 17 cabinet ministers, which included a pro-market finance minister, amid intensifying protests across the nation calling for fresh elections after the ouster of former president Pedro Castillo. Boluarte took the president's office on Wednesday after Congress sacked Castillo, who was later arrested on conspiracy and rebellion charges for making attempts to dissolve the legislature, hours before the former president was set to face an impeachment vote. The first female president of Peru, Boluarte, assigned the post of economy minister to former Deputy Finance Minister Alex Contreras, who is known to have a pro-market stance and is a career civil servant. Chemical engineer Oscar Vera was given the post of energy and mines minister, which is an important post in copper-producing Peru. WATCH| In a televised address, President Boluarte said, "I have worked hard to form a cabinet for unity and democratic consolidation that meets the needs of the country. I call for calm, tranquility and peace. Let us avoid conflicts that put our brotherhood as Peruvians at risk." Former state prosecutor Pedro Angulo was named as the prime minister by the president and diplomat Ana Cecilia Gervasi was given the portfolio of foreign minister. The 60-year-old lawyer, President Boluarte, earlier served as vice president of Castillo. If no new elections are held in the country, the Boluarte will remain in office till 2026. Castillo's lawyer has denied the charges levied against him and said that the detention of the former president is arbitrary and illegal. A request has been made for the former president's asylum in Mexico and the government authorities in Mexico and Peru are holding consultations over the request, the foreign minister of Mexico said on Thursday. Meanwhile, protesters across the country are demanding Congress' closure and holding fresh democratic elections to elect a new leader and not let Boluarte finish Castillo's term. The protesters are also raising demands for a new Constitution to be drafted. (With inputs from agencies)

Peru's President Boluarte names cabinet, makes ministers take pledge against corruption

The tweets, re-tweets and discussions on Twitter around the protests, that shook China last month and challenged the authority of Xi Jinping since the leader came to power, had a focal point on the micro-blogging site - a Chinese account with a cat avatar.&nbsp;

As people carried out protests calling for ending the zero-Covid restrictions and more freedom, live tweets were shared by the account “Teacher Li is Not Your Teacher” about these demonstrations in real-time, reflecting how fast the call for dissent reverberates across the nation.

The accounts, photos as well as videos were being censored swiftly online in China. However, those who knew how to break the Great Firewall were able to send photos and videos to “Teacher Li,” which eventually became one of the most important sources of information for Chinese people and the world.&nbsp;

ALSO READ|&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/high-level-us-delegation-to-visit-china-next-week-541943">High-level US delegation to visit China next week</a>

The man running the account, Li, is a 30-year-old painter who wears spectacles and spends most of his time sitting on a chair in front of a monitor and a keyboard in his living room in Italy, CNN reported.

During those days, he would go through an endless number of private messages in his inbox about the updates regarding the protests. He would then post those videos on the behalf of the people while hiding the senders from Chinese authorities' scrutiny.

“This account may become a symbol that Chinese people are still pursuing freedom of speech. When you post something within China, it will quickly disappear. This account can document all these historical events and moments that cannot be saved inside the country,” Li said.&nbsp;

In two weeks, his number of followers quadrupled to more than 800,000. His feed was closely monitored by activists and journalists and some television channels also aired his posts across the world.&nbsp;

WATCH|

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Under China's surveillance

With the increase in the number of followers, Li's account also caught the attention of Chinese authorities. Days back when Li was tweeting, he received his parents' anxious phone call from eastern China as they informed him about another visit from the police officials.

“As soon as I started to update Twitter, they called my parents to tell me to stop posting. And then they went to our house at midnight to harass my parents,” Li stated.

This was the second visit by police in a day. A local police chief, accompanied by some officers, had visited Li's parents in the morning and had accused Li of “attacking the state and the (Communist) Party” and had shown to them a list of tweets shared by him as “criminal evidence”.

“They wanted to know if there were any foreign forces behind me, whether I received any money, or paid people money for their submissions,” Li stated. Li informed his parents that no money was involved and he is not working for anyone. He said that his father requested him to “pull back from the brink” and not post.&nbsp;

“I can’t turn back now. Please don’t worry about me. I don’t think I’m doing anything wrong,” Li told his father.&nbsp;

(With inputs from agencies) 
&nbsp;

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The tweets, re-tweets and discussions on Twitter around the protests, that shook China last month and challenged the authority of Xi Jinping since the leader came to power, had a focal point on the micro-blogging site - a Chinese account with a cat avatar.

The tweets, re-tweets and discussions on Twitter around the protests, that shook China last month and challenged the authority of Xi Jinping since the leader came to power, had a focal point on the micro-blogging site - a Chinese account with a cat avatar. As people carried out protests calling for ending the zero-Covid restrictions and more freedom, live tweets were shared by the account “Teacher Li is Not Your Teacher” about these demonstrations in real-time, reflecting how fast the call for dissent reverberates across the nation. The accounts, photos as well as videos were being censored swiftly online in China. However, those who knew how to break the Great Firewall were able to send photos and videos to “Teacher Li,” which eventually became one of the most important sources of information for Chinese people and the world. ALSO READ| High-level US delegation to visit China next week The man running the account, Li, is a 30-year-old painter who wears spectacles and spends most of his time sitting on a chair in front of a monitor and a keyboard in his living room in Italy, CNN reported. During those days, he would go through an endless number of private messages in his inbox about the updates regarding the protests. He would then post those videos on the behalf of the people while hiding the senders from Chinese authorities' scrutiny. “This account may become a symbol that Chinese people are still pursuing freedom of speech. When you post something within China, it will quickly disappear. This account can document all these historical events and moments that cannot be saved inside the country,” Li said. In two weeks, his number of followers quadrupled to more than 800,000. His feed was closely monitored by activists and journalists and some television channels also aired his posts across the world. WATCH| Under China's surveillance With the increase in the number of followers, Li's account also caught the attention of Chinese authorities. Days back when Li was tweeting, he received his parents' anxious phone call from eastern China as they informed him about another visit from the police officials. “As soon as I started to update Twitter, they called my parents to tell me to stop posting. And then they went to our house at midnight to harass my parents,” Li stated. This was the second visit by police in a day. A local police chief, accompanied by some officers, had visited Li's parents in the morning and had accused Li of “attacking the state and the (Communist) Party” and had shown to them a list of tweets shared by him as “criminal evidence”. “They wanted to know if there were any foreign forces behind me, whether I received any money, or paid people money for their submissions,” Li stated. Li informed his parents that no money was involved and he is not working for anyone. He said that his father requested him to “pull back from the brink” and not post. “I can’t turn back now. Please don’t worry about me. I don’t think I’m doing anything wrong,” Li told his father. (With inputs from agencies)

Twitter account with cat avatar takes centre stage for info and updates on China protests

Women protesters in Iran are reportedly being shot in their faces, genitals. Medics in Iran say men and women have shotgun wounds in different parts of their bodies. Molly Gambhir tells you.

Gravitas | Report: Women protesters are being shot in their face, genitals in Iran

Iran's supreme leader Khamenei's sister opposes her brother's actions, asks revolutionary guards to back the protesters. Ghadi Francis brings us all the latest updates on Iran protests in this week's The West Asia Post.

The West Asia Post: Protesters Vs Iran regime fight goes on

Climate activists throughout the world are using different modes of protests in a bid to create awareness regarding the lack of climate actions. Watch this video to know more.

WION Climate Tracker: Climate activists stage protests across the globe

Lawmakers in San Francisco have voted to ban the controversial policy of letting police use robots for deadly force amidst concerns over militarisation and automation of policing.&nbsp;The San Francisco police department (SFPD) has 17 robots in its arsenal that can even kill people during action.

The city’s board of supervisors have decided to prohibit the use of police robots to be used in such a lethal manner, however, they have called for further review by a committee to later decided whether to allow killer robots to be used in limited cases.

The major U-turn comes a week after the board members voted to allow robots to be armed with explosives “when risk of loss of life to members of the public or officers is imminent and outweighs any other force option available to SFPD”.

They had also decided that only top officers would be granted permission to authorise the deployment of robots for deadly use.

The decision to revoke the earlier move comes in the wake of a series of protests by civil society organisations and three members of the board who earlier opposed using killer robots.

On Monday, they staged a protest outside City Hall seeking to reverse the decision, with chants like “We all saw that movie … No Killer Robots.”

One of the members who opposed the move, supervisor Dean Preston, on Tuesday welcomed the decision, saying that there is no place for “killer robots”.

“The people of San Francisco have spoken loud and clear: There is no place for killer police robots in our city,” he said in a statement after the vote, according to AP news agency.

“We should be working on ways to decrease the use of force by local law enforcement, not giving them new tools to kill people.”

So far, only San Francisco and Oakland have debated on the use of lethal robots. The Oakland police wanted to arm robots with shotguns but did not proceed with the move in the face of fierce public opposition.

(With inputs from agencies)

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Lawmakers in San Francisco have voted to ban the controversial policy of letting police use robots for deadly force amidst concerns over militarisation and automation of policing.

Lawmakers in San Francisco have voted to ban the controversial policy of letting police use robots for deadly force amidst concerns over militarisation and automation of policing. The San Francisco police department (SFPD) has 17 robots in its arsenal that can even kill people during action. The city’s board of supervisors have decided to prohibit the use of police robots to be used in such a lethal manner, however, they have called for further review by a committee to later decided whether to allow killer robots to be used in limited cases. The major U-turn comes a week after the board members voted to allow robots to be armed with explosives “when risk of loss of life to members of the public or officers is imminent and outweighs any other force option available to SFPD”. They had also decided that only top officers would be granted permission to authorise the deployment of robots for deadly use. The decision to revoke the earlier move comes in the wake of a series of protests by civil society organisations and three members of the board who earlier opposed using killer robots. On Monday, they staged a protest outside City Hall seeking to reverse the decision, with chants like “We all saw that movie … No Killer Robots.” One of the members who opposed the move, supervisor Dean Preston, on Tuesday welcomed the decision, saying that there is no place for “killer robots”. “The people of San Francisco have spoken loud and clear: There is no place for killer police robots in our city,” he said in a statement after the vote, according to AP news agency. “We should be working on ways to decrease the use of force by local law enforcement, not giving them new tools to kill people.” So far, only San Francisco and Oakland have debated on the use of lethal robots. The Oakland police wanted to arm robots with shotguns but did not proceed with the move in the face of fierce public opposition. (With inputs from agencies) WATCH WION LIVE HERE:

After backlash, San Francisco reverses move to permit use of ‘killer robots’ by police

After series of mass protests, COVID-19 curbs are being relaxed in few parts of China. Businesses were reopened and testing requirements were also eased.

China eases zero Covid curbs after mass protests

Angry demonstrations turned violent in Mongolia’s capital city of Ulaanbaatar on Monday (December 5) as protesters braved sub-zero temperatures to storm the country’s main parliament building, following allegations of corruption among government officials.

Watch: Anti-corruption protesters try to storm government palace in Mongolia

While China is taking some steps to try and ease the Covid rules, the Chinese State television has censored the World Cup games which are currently happening in Qatar and the decision was taken in order to remove the shots of mask-less crowd.

China: Protesters in China angered against Xi’s Zero Covid policy

The economic hardships of the war-torn nation have stoked resentment in the southern metropolis. A big image of President Bashar Assad was pulled down from the exterior of a government building by protesters after they invaded the structure. In the southern Syrian city of Sweida, one protester and one policeman were murdered on Sunday when security forces put down a large-scale demonstration.

Syria: 2 dead as protesters clash with police, storm governor's office in Sweida

After days of large scale protests, more and more Chinese cities are easing Covid curbs but there are concerns renewed surge in the fresh Covid-19 cases and its impact on the Chinese medical system. The concerns stem from lower vaccination and booster rates and on top of it US intel says China is unwilling to accept western vaccines.

China: Xi 'unwilling' to accept western vaccines?

Dozens of protesters in Syria’s southern city of Sweida stormed the governor’s office, on Sunday, over worsening economic conditions in the country. Subsequently, the demonstration turned violent and led to the death of a protester and a police officer while at least seven others were injured, according to reports.&nbsp;

Notably, anti-government protests are rare in Syria since President Bashar Assad took over more than a decade ago. A report by Reuters citing witnesses said that more than 200 people had gathered around the building in the Druze-majority province calling to overthrow the Syrian president amid worsening economic conditions, food security and the energy crisis the country is witnessing.&nbsp;

Subsequently, some people broke into the Sweida governorate building and burnt files and official papers, reported the Syrian state media. Meanwhile, the country’s Interior Minister in a statement said that those who raided the building were armed, destroyed windows and looted files. He also confirmed that at least one officer was killed following an attack by the protesters at a police station.&nbsp;

Three witnesses told Reuters that the governor was not in the building at the time of the attack and was evacuated before the protesters stormed the office. Furthermore, citing hospital sources the report also confirmed the death of one civilian from gunshot wounds. It added that another person is being treated after being shot.&nbsp;

“There is a large deployment of security forces in the area, and you can still hear gunshots,” said Rayan Maalouf, the head of the Suwayda 24 collective to the Associated Press. The United Kingdom-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights also confirmed that the police had fired ammunition at the protesters gathered.&nbsp;

(With inputs from agencies)&nbsp; 
&nbsp;

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Dozens of protesters in Syria’s southern city of Sweida stormed the governor’s office, on Sunday, over worsening economic conditions in the country. Subsequently, the demonstration turned violent and led to the death of a protester and a police officer while at least seven others were injured, according to reports.

Dozens of protesters in Syria’s southern city of Sweida stormed the governor’s office, on Sunday, over worsening economic conditions in the country. Subsequently, the demonstration turned violent and led to the death of a protester and a police officer while at least seven others were injured, according to reports. Notably, anti-government protests are rare in Syria since President Bashar Assad took over more than a decade ago. A report by Reuters citing witnesses said that more than 200 people had gathered around the building in the Druze-majority province calling to overthrow the Syrian president amid worsening economic conditions, food security and the energy crisis the country is witnessing. Subsequently, some people broke into the Sweida governorate building and burnt files and official papers, reported the Syrian state media. Meanwhile, the country’s Interior Minister in a statement said that those who raided the building were armed, destroyed windows and looted files. He also confirmed that at least one officer was killed following an attack by the protesters at a police station. Three witnesses told Reuters that the governor was not in the building at the time of the attack and was evacuated before the protesters stormed the office. Furthermore, citing hospital sources the report also confirmed the death of one civilian from gunshot wounds. It added that another person is being treated after being shot. “There is a large deployment of security forces in the area, and you can still hear gunshots,” said Rayan Maalouf, the head of the Suwayda 24 collective to the Associated Press. The United Kingdom-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights also confirmed that the police had fired ammunition at the protesters gathered. (With inputs from agencies) WATCH WION LIVE HERE You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us here.

At least two killed, seven injured in Syria after protesters storm governor’s office

China's top security body on Tuesday called for a "crackdown" on "hostile forces" after the country saw protests in major cities opposing Covid lockdowns and demanding greater political freedoms.

Top China security body calls for 'crackdown' on 'hostile forces'

The International Monetary Fund (IMF) on Wednesday said that China still has room to adjust its strict zero-Covid policy, pointing out that the nation's stringent policies have been especially hard on the people.

In an email statement to AFP a spokesperson for IMF, "Covid and Covid-related restrictions are hard on people... This has been the case everywhere, and even more so in China."

Watch |&nbsp;World Business Watch: China's factory, service activities shrink to 7 month low

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The organisation said that Chinese authorities have made policies more targeted, and "there is scope for further gradual, safe recalibration."

Three years into the pandemic, when many countries have eased covid containment measures like lockdowns, China still regularly deploys such measures, locking up entire neighbourhoods and cities to eradicate the virus. These strict measures come with a heavy toll on citizens and the nation's economy.

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/chinese-government-relaxes-covid-19-rules-in-several-districts-in-guangzhou-538833">Chinese government relaxes COVID-19 rules in several districts of Guangzhou</a>

IMF said that China's economy has partially recovered and an adjustment of its policy may help growth in 2023, while also supporting the global economy.

For a large part of this year, the Chinese major business hub has been under lockdown. This has not only impacted Beijing's economy but also the global markets, and supply chains.

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/3-years-of-covid-was-his-entire-life-in-china-child-dies-due-to-lockdown-rules-father-offered-hush-money-530653">'3 years of COVID was his entire life': In China, child dies due to lockdown rules, father offered hush money</a>

&nbsp;

&nbsp;

&nbsp;

Recently, following reports of deaths due to these lockdowns people have protested, raging across the nation in a "rare outpouring" of anger.&nbsp;A fire in a high-rise building in Xinjiang that killed ten people last week reportedly acted as a catalyst for these protests. Many have alleged that a partial lockdown on the building fatally delayed rescue operations and also obstructed escape routes.

(With inputs from agencies)

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The International Monetary Fund (IMF) on Wednesday said that China still has room to adjust its strict zero-Covid policy, pointing out that the nation's stringent policies have been especially hard on the people.

The International Monetary Fund (IMF) on Wednesday said that China still has room to adjust its strict zero-Covid policy, pointing out that the nation's stringent policies have been especially hard on the people. In an email statement to AFP a spokesperson for IMF, "Covid and Covid-related restrictions are hard on people... This has been the case everywhere, and even more so in China." Watch | World Business Watch: China's factory, service activities shrink to 7 month low The organisation said that Chinese authorities have made policies more targeted, and "there is scope for further gradual, safe recalibration." Three years into the pandemic, when many countries have eased covid containment measures like lockdowns, China still regularly deploys such measures, locking up entire neighbourhoods and cities to eradicate the virus. These strict measures come with a heavy toll on citizens and the nation's economy. Also read | Chinese government relaxes COVID-19 rules in several districts of Guangzhou IMF said that China's economy has partially recovered and an adjustment of its policy may help growth in 2023, while also supporting the global economy. For a large part of this year, the Chinese major business hub has been under lockdown. This has not only impacted Beijing's economy but also the global markets, and supply chains. Also read | '3 years of COVID was his entire life': In China, child dies due to lockdown rules, father offered hush money Recently, following reports of deaths due to these lockdowns people have protested, raging across the nation in a "rare outpouring" of anger. A fire in a high-rise building in Xinjiang that killed ten people last week reportedly acted as a catalyst for these protests. Many have alleged that a partial lockdown on the building fatally delayed rescue operations and also obstructed escape routes. (With inputs from agencies) WATCH WION LIVE HERE You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us here.

China can adjust its strict zero-Covid policy, it's been hard on people, says IMF

The United States and Canada have requested China to not use force against the protesters opposing the latest set of lockdowns imposed by the Communist Party of China as part of the Zero Covid policy. With citizens showing dissent in various parts of the country, the top security body in China has&nbsp;already urged the government to launch a “crackdown” on “hostile forces”.

According to video footage, which was verified by AFP, the police clashed with protesters in the city of Guangzhou. The video showed that security personnel in hazmat suits were present in the city’s Haizhu district on Tuesday and screams of people could be heard in the background. It also showed objects being thrown at the police and many people were detained by the authorities.

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/europes-import-of-russian-lng-jumps-42-amid-russia-ukraine-war-report-538720">Europe's import of Russian LNG jumps 42% amid Russia-Ukraine war: Report</a>

In response to this incident, White House national security spokesperson John Kirby said that China should allow people to protest peacefully and not use violence to stop the demonstrations.

“We don’t want to see protesters physically harmed, intimidated or coerced in any way. That’s what peaceful protest is all about and that’s what we have continued to stand up for whether it’s in China or Iran or elsewhere around the world,” he said in an interview with CNN.

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/scott-morrison-becomes-the-first-former-pm-to-be-censured-by-the-australian-parliament-538686">Scott Morrison becomes the first former PM to be censured by the parliament</a>

Canada also took a similar stance regarding the topic and Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said that the Chinese government should not curb the freedom of expression when it comes to the people.

“Everyone in China should be allowed to express themselves, should be allowed to share their perspectives and indeed protest,” Trudeau said. “We’re going to continue to ensure that China knows we’ll stand up for human rights, we’ll stand with people who are expressing themselves.”

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The United States and Canada have requested China to not use force against the protesters opposing the latest set of lockdowns imposed by the Communist Party of China as part of the Zero Covid policy.

The United States and Canada have requested China to not use force against the protesters opposing the latest set of lockdowns imposed by the Communist Party of China as part of the Zero Covid policy. With citizens showing dissent in various parts of the country, the top security body in China has already urged the government to launch a “crackdown” on “hostile forces”. According to video footage, which was verified by AFP, the police clashed with protesters in the city of Guangzhou. The video showed that security personnel in hazmat suits were present in the city’s Haizhu district on Tuesday and screams of people could be heard in the background. It also showed objects being thrown at the police and many people were detained by the authorities. Also read | Europe's import of Russian LNG jumps 42% amid Russia-Ukraine war: Report In response to this incident, White House national security spokesperson John Kirby said that China should allow people to protest peacefully and not use violence to stop the demonstrations. “We don’t want to see protesters physically harmed, intimidated or coerced in any way. That’s what peaceful protest is all about and that’s what we have continued to stand up for whether it’s in China or Iran or elsewhere around the world,” he said in an interview with CNN. Also read | Scott Morrison becomes the first former PM to be censured by the parliament Canada also took a similar stance regarding the topic and Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said that the Chinese government should not curb the freedom of expression when it comes to the people. “Everyone in China should be allowed to express themselves, should be allowed to share their perspectives and indeed protest,” Trudeau said. “We’re going to continue to ensure that China knows we’ll stand up for human rights, we’ll stand with people who are expressing themselves.”

US and Canada urge China not to use force for stopping protests against stringent Covid curbs

At least 448 people have perished in the more than two months of protests that have been instigated by Mahsa Amini's death while being held by the morality police, reports said citing human rights groups.&nbsp; 
 
The reports came even as an Iranian general acknowledged deaths of over 300 people in the protests.

The Islamic Republic has sent in state security forces to quell what it refers to as "riots" that started after the Kurdish Iranian woman, 22, who was detained for allegedly breaking Iran's dress code for women, died on September 16, three days after her arrest.&nbsp;

According to Brigadier General Amirali Hajizadeh of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), "Everyone in the country has been affected by the death of this lady."

In a video released by the Mehr news agency, Hajizadeh, head of the Guards' aerospace division said, "I don't have the latest figures, but I think we have had perhaps more than 300 martyrs and people killed." Among them are some of "the best sons of the country", he added.

The death toll includes people who have taken to the streets as well as numerous police officers, soldiers, and IRGC militia members who were murdered elsewhere or in conflicts with protesters.&nbsp;

Also Read:<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/australias-great-barrier-reef-should-be-placed-on-world-heritage-in-danger-list-un-report-538486">&nbsp;Australia’s Great Barrier Reef should be placed on world heritage ‘in danger’ list: UN Report</a>

The most recent death toll is far higher than the estimate of at least 416 people "killed in the suppression of protests in Iran" provided by the non-governmental organisation Iran Human Rights, based in Oslo.&nbsp;

The organisation claims that its death toll includes those slain in Amini protest-related violence as well as other specific&nbsp;turmoil in the southeastern province of Sistan-Baluchistan, near the borders with Pakistan and Afghanistan.

(with inputs from agencies) 
&nbsp;

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At least 448 people have perished in the more than two months of protests that have been instigated by Mahsa Amini's death while being held by the morality police, reports said citing human rights groups.

At least 448 people have perished in the more than two months of protests that have been instigated by Mahsa Amini's death while being held by the morality police, reports said citing human rights groups. The reports came even as an Iranian general acknowledged deaths of over 300 people in the protests. The Islamic Republic has sent in state security forces to quell what it refers to as "riots" that started after the Kurdish Iranian woman, 22, who was detained for allegedly breaking Iran's dress code for women, died on September 16, three days after her arrest. According to Brigadier General Amirali Hajizadeh of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), "Everyone in the country has been affected by the death of this lady." In a video released by the Mehr news agency, Hajizadeh, head of the Guards' aerospace division said, "I don't have the latest figures, but I think we have had perhaps more than 300 martyrs and people killed." Among them are some of "the best sons of the country", he added. The death toll includes people who have taken to the streets as well as numerous police officers, soldiers, and IRGC militia members who were murdered elsewhere or in conflicts with protesters. Also Read: Australia’s Great Barrier Reef should be placed on world heritage ‘in danger’ list: UN Report The most recent death toll is far higher than the estimate of at least 416 people "killed in the suppression of protests in Iran" provided by the non-governmental organisation Iran Human Rights, based in Oslo. The organisation claims that its death toll includes those slain in Amini protest-related violence as well as other specific turmoil in the southeastern province of Sistan-Baluchistan, near the borders with Pakistan and Afghanistan. (with inputs from agencies)

Iran: 448 people killed in protests sparked by Amini's death, say reports citing rights goups

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