Witnesses said someone was shot

WARNING: This story contains details that some readers may find distressing.

An Iranian woman who witnessed a bloody crackdown on protests in Iran has described how her neighborhood turned into a “war zone” as security forces opened fire on crowds with live ammunition.

An internet blockade imposed by the Iranian government is now in its third week, preventing many reports of what happened from reaching the wider world.

But some Iranians who left the country were able to share what they saw.

Parnia, who lives in London, told the BBC she was visiting family in central Isfahan when protests broke out in the capital, Tehran. They quickly spread across the country, with hundreds of protesters in Isfahan’s Hakim Nezami and Kagani neighborhoods within days.

“There were women and men between the ages of seven and 70,” she said. “There were 200 to 300 people on one street alone. People were chanting ‘Death to the dictator’ and ‘Long live the king.'” The “dictator” was Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, while the king was a reference to Iran’s late monarch, who was overthrown in the 1979 Islamic Revolution, and his son, the exiled Crown Prince Reza Pahlavi.

Isfahan has been the scene of protests and crackdowns for years. But Parnia said she had never seen what happened during the recent riots, which were sparked by anger over the collapse of Iran’s currency.

First, security forces fired tear gas at the protesters, she said. They then lined up and fired birdshot.

“I saw people getting shot and falling to the ground, and I saw blood in the streets.”

Parnia said she ran away down an alley when she was suddenly pulled into an apartment building by a woman. There were many injured protesters inside, she said.

“I saw blood on the floor of the hall and I saw a girl’s leg covered in pellets.”

Video from that night verified by the BBC showed large crowds on the streets of Isfahan. Some streets were blocked off by traffic sign poles and large metal panels as protesters apparently tried to protect themselves from gunfire.

Video also showed protesters breaking through the door of the state broadcaster Irib building, which was later set on fire.

On the morning of Friday, January 9, Khamenei said Iran would not make concessions in dealing with what he called “destructive elements”, a day after US President Donald Trump threatened to hit Iran “hard” if the authorities start killing people.

After Khamenei’s speech, the powerful Revolutionary Guards sent text messages to people across Iran, telling them to avoid gathering on the streets in unrest areas. The messages also warned against working with so-called “terrorist mercenaries”, saying such behavior would constitute treason.

Despite the risks, Parnia was out protesting again Friday night.

“The protesters are hopeful,” she said. “You could see the fear on everyone’s faces. We didn’t dare pass in front of the security forces or get any closer,” she said.

“We thought that even if we were killed, that would be a reason for Trump to move faster.”

Video obtained by the BBC the day before showed large crowds gathering on the main street near Parnia. But she said Friday that was different.

“Protesters were gathering in small groups in alleys. Every time someone tried to gather on the larger streets, we could hear live shots being fired, followed by screams and shouts.”

The BBC has not yet obtained footage from Friday night due to an internet outage and protesters avoiding carrying mobile phones.

Parnia also described scenes of “complete chaos” at a local clinic that was treating injured protesters.

“The phone lines are not working. No one can call their families and many people refuse to go to the hospital, fearing they will be arrested there,” she said.

“All the nurses could do was clean the wounds and send them home. The next day you could still smell the tear gas in the air. Security forces were present and there were checkpoints throughout the city.”

Parnia left Isfahan that day, headed to the capital Tehran, and took a flight back to London.

“I arrived in Tehran at 6pm. All the shops were closed and a lot of people gathered in the streets. At 8pm, everyone started shouting slogans and I could hear gunshots,” she said.

“The airport was so busy. A lot of foreign airlines were canceling and people were frustrated. Luckily, I found an Iranian flight to take off.”

Since returning to the UK, Parnia has kept in touch with friends in Isfahan.

She said she learned from sources that doctors at Fiz Eye Hospital in Isfahan have performed about 300 operations to remove eyes from patients with facial injuries from bird strikes.

“Every time you walk down the street, you see random people wearing eye patches,” Parnia’s friend told her.

Hospitals are under surveillance and control by security forces and people with gunshot wounds in Isfahan are being arrested, according to several health workers interviewed by the BBC.

Parnia quoted her friend as saying: “Many of the injured are developing infections. Some doctors are referring them to surgeons who can treat them in private clinics.”

Although Iranian authorities say about 3,000 people died during the protests, the US human rights group HRANA has so far confirmed more than 4,600 deaths, with another 9,700 cases still under review. At least 7,300 people were also seriously injured, according to the organization. Many believe the true number may be higher.

Parnia said she was now preparing to attend an Iran-Contra protest in the UK and said she wanted to give a voice to silenced protesters.

She also expressed anger at international media reports of disunity between Iranians and the country’s political opposition.

“The Iranians showed what they wanted in the streets and paid a high price for it.”