A young man was shot dead during a second night of protests over water shortages in southwest Iran, state news agency IRNA has reported.
Iran is facing its worst drought in 50 years, with protests breaking out in several cities and towns in Khuzestan province over the water crisis, which has affected households, devastated agriculture and livestock farming, and led to power blackouts.
The deadly incident came on Friday in the Khuzestan town of Shadegan, Omid Sabripour, the county’s acting governor, told IRNA on Saturday, blaming the death on “opportunists and rioters”.
“During the rally, rioters shot in the air to provoke the people, but unfortunately one of the bullets hit a person present at the scene and killed him,” he said.
In separate comments to the ISNA news agency, Sabripour said the shooting was directed at both the demonstrators and security forces.
He added that the victim was a “30-year-old passerby” and that those responsible were identified.
Victim’s father
Iranian media broadcast a video of the father of the victim, Mostafa Naimawi, who said his son was shot by rioters and not by government security forces.
“My son was not a trouble maker and had nothing to do with riots and disturbances,” the father, who was not identified by name, said in Arabic on the video that provided a Farsi translation.
Videos posted on social media have shown protesters setting fire to tyres to block roads and security forces trying to disperse crowds as shots were heard.
During some of the protests, people vented their anger with Supreme Leader Ali Hosseini Khamenei, chanting “Death to the dictator” and “Death to Khamenei”.
Some were arrested on Friday night, with a manhunt launched for the others.
