TEHRAN: A member of Iran’s security forces has been shot dead during protests in the city of Semirom, state media said Sunday, more than 100 days after Mahsa Amini’s death sparked nationwide unrest.
Iran has been rocked by protests — dubbed “riots” by the authorities — since Amini, 22, died in custody on September 16 following her arrest for an alleged breach of the country’s strict dress code for women.
“A Basij member was killed in the city of Semirom by armed criminals,” official news agency IRNA reported, referring to the paramilitary force linked to the powerful Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps.
IRNA said protesters had gathered late Saturday in the city, about 470 kilometers south of the capital Tehran in the central Isfahan province.
They rallied in front of the regional administration building and other locations in Semirom, it added.
“Security forces were deployed to establish order in the city and, in some cases, clashes occurred with several rioters,” the report said.
Iranian officials say hundreds of people have been killed in the nationwide unrest, including members of the security forces, and thousands arrested.
Tehran accuses hostile foreign powers and opposition groups of stoking the unrest.
Last month, Iran executed two men, both 23, who had been convicted of attacks against security forces in connection with the protests.
The judiciary has said nine others have been sentenced to death. Campaigners said this week dozens of protesters also face charges that carry a potential death sentence.
Militiaman killed in central Iran protest: state media
https://arab.news/8cbav
Militiaman killed in central Iran protest: state media
- A Basij member was killed in the city of Semirom by armed personnel
Israel’s hostage forum releases AI-generated video of last Gaza captive
- The Gaza ceasefire, which came into effect in October, remains fragile with both sides alleging violations, and mediators fearing that Israel and Hamas alike are stalling
JERUSALEM: An Israeli group representing the families of Gaza hostages released on Tuesday an AI-generated video of Ran Gvili, the last captive whose body is still being held in the Palestinian territory.
The one-minute clip, created whole cloth using artificial intelligence, purports to depict Gvili as he sits in a Gaza tunnel and appeals to US President Donald Trump to help bring his body back to Israel.
“Mr President, I’m asking you to see this through: Please bring me home. My family deserves this. I deserve the right to be buried with honor in the land I fought for,” says the AI-generated image of Gvili.
Gvili was 24 at the time of Hamas’s October 7, 2023 attack on Israel.
He was an officer in Israel’s Yasam elite police unit and was on medical leave when he learnt of the attack.
He decided to leave his home and brought his gun to counter the Hamas militants.
He was shot in the fighting at the Alumim kibbutz before he was taken to Gaza.
Israeli authorities told Gvili’s parents in January 2024 that he had not survived his injuries.
The AI clip was released by the Hostages and Missing Families Forum, the main group representing those taken captive to Gaza.
The Forum said it was published with the approval of Gvili’s family.
“Seeing and hearing Rani speak in his own voice is both moving and heartbreaking. I would give anything to hear, see and hold him again,” Gvili’s mother Talik said, quoted by the Forum.
“But all I can do now is plead that they don’t move to the next phase of the agreement before bringing Rani home — because we don’t leave heroes behind.”
The Gaza ceasefire, which came into effect in October, remains fragile with both sides alleging violations, and mediators fearing that Israel and Hamas alike are stalling.
In the first stage, Palestinian militants were expected to return all of the remaining 48 living and dead hostages held in Gaza.
Since the ceasefire came into effect on October 10, militants have released 47 hostages.
In the next stages of the truce, Israel is supposed to withdraw from its positions in Gaza, an interim authority is to govern the Palestinian territory instead of Hamas, and an international stabilization force is to be deployed.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is expected to meet Trump in Florida later this month to discuss the second phase of the deal.
