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Iran protests: Schoolgirls chant 'get out' and wave headscarves during IRGC official visit

Schoolgirls and young women have been in the vanguard of anti-government protests in Iran, sparked by the death in custody of Mahsa Amini
Screengrab from unverified film shows Iranian schoolgirls waving their headscarves and chanting 'get out' at a member of the IRGC (Twitter)

Video has circulated on social media of girls in Iran waving their headscarves and chanting "get out" at a member of the Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps (IRGC) during a talk at their school.

"Get out, Basiji!" shout the pupils, referring to a faction of the IRGC which often enforces internal security in the country.

The video, 0riginally shared by the opposition 1500tasvir Instagram account and not independently verified by Middle East Eye, is the latest in a series of wildcat demonstrations by pupils and students against government officials in the country.

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Protests have continued across the country over the death in custody of 22-year old Iranian Kurdish woman Mahsa Amini following her arrest by the "morality police" for an alleged "bad hijab".

Schools and university campuses have emerged as a key hub for the demonstrations, with clashes breaking out between students and security services.

In another video a group of girls can be seen chanting "Death to the dictator" and "woman, life, freedom" as they march down a street in the city of Karaj.

https://twitter.com/SAMRIReports/status/1577089370775236608

Iran's government has responded to the demonstrations with violence, blaming them on foreign agitators, and arresting hundreds.

The Norway-based Iran Human Rights group reported that by 2 October, 133 people had been killed during three weeks of protests.

Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei on Monday gave his full backing to security forces confronting protests, comments that could herald a harsher crackdown to quell the ongoing unrest.

Although Khamenei said he was “deeply heartbroken” by the death of Amini, which he labelled a “tragic incident", he said the demonstrations and "rioting" had been "planned".

"These riots and insecurities were designed by America and the Zionist regime, and their employees," he told a gathering of police students, referring to Israel.

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