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Pompeo Accuses Iran of Using Violence, Censorship to Suppress Memorials

RFE /RL

   U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo has slammed Iran for using
   "violence" and internet disruption to prevent memorials for those
   killed during a November crackdown on anti-establishment protests.

   "The Iranian people have the right to mourn 1,500 victims slaughtered
   by @khamenei_irduring #IranProtests," Pompeo tweeted Friday, directly
   accusing Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, who has the final say
   on religious and political issues in the Islamic republic.
   According to the semiofficial ILNAnews agency, internet access was
   effectively cut off Wednesday in several Iranian provinces ahead of
   memorials planned Thursday.
   Several people were reportedly detained at amourningin Karaj marking 40
   dayssincethe death of a slain protester.
   "The regime fears its own citizens and has once again resorted to
   violence and shutting down theinternet," Pompeo tweeted Friday.
   The protests in Iran were touched offby a significant increase in the
   price of gasoline.The United States said earlier this month that
   Iranian authorities mighthave killed more than 1,000 people in the
   crackdown in mid-November.
   Reuters quoted anonymous government officials as saying about 1,500
   people had died during the protests, though that figure could not be
   confirmed.
   Amnesty International has said that at least 304 were killed and
   thousands injured in the unrest.
   Tehran has dismissed the figures by rights groups and others while
   failing to publish an official death toll.
   AgenceFrance-Presse and Reuters contributed to thisreport.

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