Iran protests: Death toll rises to 76 as crackdown intensifies - rights group
At least 76 protesters have been killed by Iranian security forces during 11 days of unrest sparked by the death of a woman in custody, activists say, BBC reported.
Iran Human Rights (IHR), a Norway-based organisation, accused authorities of using disproportionate force and live ammunition to suppress the dissent.
State media have put the number of dead at 41, including several security personnel, and blamed "rioters".
Hundreds of people have also been arrested, 20 of them journalists.
"The risk of torture and ill-treatment of protesters is serious and the use of live ammunition against protesters is an international crime," said IHR's director Mahmood Amiry-Moghaddam. "The world must defend the Iranian people's demands for their fundamental rights."
The UN human rights office also said it was very concerned by the authorities' violent response and urged them to respect the right to protest peacefully, according to BBC.
The anti-government demonstrations have spread to more than 80 cities and towns across Iran since the funeral of Mahsa Amini on 17 September.
She collapsed after being taken to a detention centre to be "educated" and died in hospital following three days in a coma.
The police said Ms Amini died after suffering sudden heart failure, but her family have dismissed that and alleged that she was beaten by officers.
The protests against the morality police and hijab law triggered by her death quickly evolved into the most serious challenge that Iran's Shia Muslim clerical establishment has faced in years, BBC reported.
Videos posted on social media have shown women defiantly burning their headscarves on bonfires and cutting their hair in public to cheers and chants of "Women, life, freedom" and "Death to the dictator" - a reference to the Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei.
Nepal reports 54 new Covid-19 cases on Tuesday
Nepal reported 54 new Covid-19 cases on Tuesday. According to the Ministry of Health and Population, 1, 729 swab samples were tested in the RT-PCR method, of which 42 returned positive. Likewise, 2, 100 people underwent antigen tests, of which 12 were tested positive. The Ministry said that no one died of the virus in the last 24 hours. The Ministry said that 76 infected people recovered from the disease. As of today, there are 1, 144 active cases in the country.
Born with Pride Conference kicks off
The two day-long Born with Pride Conference is being organized at the Hotel Himalaya, Kathmandu by the Friedrich Naumann Foundation for Freedom (FNF), in collaboration with the Embassy of the Federal Republic of Germany in Kathmandu, Samriddhi Foundation and the German Nepal Friendship Association. The conference is engaging in conversation with multiple stakeholders of the Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Queer, Intersex and Asexual (LGBTQIA+) community, politicians, activists, academicians, lawyers, organizations and civil society. As many as 21 speakers from seven South Asian Countries as well as from Europe and the Tibetan community and more than 100 participants attend the event. The high number of participants shows the importance of the issue and the great willingness to know more about the issue. The conference also has welcomed seven keynote speakers from across the Nepali and European political spectrum addressing various LGBTQIA+ community issues. There are five interactive sessions to discuss various topics such as queer in power, inclusive digital spaces for queer persons, the issue of legal recognition, the role of media, and the acceptance and integration of queer persons in civil society. Speaking at the conference, Dr. Carsten Klein, Head of the FNF Regional Office South Asia states, “platforms like this provides an opportunity to have a healthy dialogue, network, and come together to solve the inequalities and discrimination”. Former Minister of Urban Development and member of the House of Representative Ram Kumari Jhakri thanked the organizer for organizing the conference and highlighted the need of convergence of political and civil society campaigning to achieve the shared goal of promotion and protection of queer rights noting that “our party has nominated two inclusive candidates in the upcoming federal and provincial election and that we are determined to bring them in the upcoming house of representative”. Yannick Shetty, Member of the Austrian Parliament, highlighted the need of a value based foreign policy that condemns discrimination. The event will conclude on 28th September with the prize distribution for the Winners of the Born with Pride Visual Art Competition that was organized online before the conference.
13 persons buried in Manaslu avalanche rescued
All the persons, who went missing in an avalanche at Manaslu Base Camp in Gorkha district on Monday, have been rescued. The District Police Office, Gorkha said that 13 persons, who were buried in the avalanche, have been rescued on Tuesday morning. The Incident occurred while they were heading towards the fourth base camp from the third. SP Kedar Khanal said that two persons were rescued on Monday while 10 this morning. He said that six persons have been sent to Kathmandu. Preparations are underway to send others to the Capital, he said. Nima Dorje Sherpa (40) and Dawa Sherpa (25) of Sankhuwasabha, Phurita Sherpa (40) and Lakpa Tamang (37) of Dolkha have been sent to Kathmandu this morning. Among them, Nima Dorje is critically injured. Three helicopters of Simrik Air, Heli Everest and Kailash Air have been deployed to carry out rescue operations. Thirteen people, who were carrying essential materials for the mountaineers, were buried in an avalanche yesterday. Among them, one died on the spot while 12 others sustained injuries. It has been learnt that 404 people had taken permits to climb Mount Manaslu this year.
