Iranian Protesters Call for ‘Referendum’

High school students removing their hijabs in Tehran (Twitter)
High school students removing their hijabs in Tehran (Twitter)
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Iranian Protesters Call for ‘Referendum’

High school students removing their hijabs in Tehran (Twitter)
High school students removing their hijabs in Tehran (Twitter)

University students in Iran are calling for a “referendum” at anti-regime rallies that have been sweeping the nation for the 18th day in a row. Schoolchildren joined these demonstrations and teachers and merchants have shown solidarity by going on strike in some provinces.

“Referendum…Referendum… This is the people's motto!” chanted demonstrators at the Ferdowsi University of Mashhad.

They also used slogans condemning the riot police’s raiding of the Sharif University of Technology in Tehran.

Universities across Iran are witnessing anti-government protests that had erupted following the death of 22-year-old Mahsa Amini in the custody of Iran’s morality police.

Despite authorities cracking down on protesters, demonstrations spilled to other universities in Tehran, Urima, Mashhad and Ardabil. Students continued to organize sit-ins on Tuesday.

Education Ministry efforts failed in quelling student masses who were not only demonstrating against the oppressive regime but were also urging authorities to release their fellow protesters arrested over the last two weeks.

Although protests initially broke out against Iran’s compulsory hijab law, they spiraled into full-blown anti-regime demonstrations.

“We don’t want the Islamic Republic,” chanted demonstrators in Mashhad on Monday evening.

“The killing of protesters in Iran, especially in Zahedan, amounts to crimes against humanity. The international community has a duty to investigate this crime and prevent further crimes from being committed by the Islamic Republic,” said Iran Human Rights Director Mahmood Amiry-Moghaddam.

According to information obtained by Iran Human Rights, at least 154 people have been killed in the nationwide protests. At least nine are believed to have been under 18 years of age.

Most killings have been reported in Sistan and Baluchistan, Mazandaran, Gilan and West Azerbaijan, said the organization.

The number of confirmed deaths in Zahedan's bloody Friday has also risen to at least 63.



Ukraine Urges Investigation into Alleged Russian Chemical Weapons Use

The logo of the Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW) is seen during a special session in the Hague, Netherlands June 26, 2018. REUTERS/Yves Herman/File Photo
The logo of the Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW) is seen during a special session in the Hague, Netherlands June 26, 2018. REUTERS/Yves Herman/File Photo
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Ukraine Urges Investigation into Alleged Russian Chemical Weapons Use

The logo of the Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW) is seen during a special session in the Hague, Netherlands June 26, 2018. REUTERS/Yves Herman/File Photo
The logo of the Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW) is seen during a special session in the Hague, Netherlands June 26, 2018. REUTERS/Yves Herman/File Photo

Ukraine asked the global chemical weapons watchdog in The Hague on Tuesday to investigate the alleged use of banned toxic munitions by Russia against its forces.

A request to establish an investigation was submitted by Kyiv to the governing body of the organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW).

It followed Dutch and German intelligence agencies on Friday saying they had evidence of widespread use of illegal weapons by Russia along the frontline.

Agency chief Fernando Arias said in a statement to the OPCW's Executive Council that in view of the alleged frequent use of dangerous chemical agents his office would step up monitoring of activity along the Russia-Ukraine conflict line, Reuters reportf.

He invited Ukraine to discuss its proposal with member states, a majority of whom may be needed to support such an investigation.

The OPCW created a similar team in 2018 to examine accusations of chemical weapons use in Syria. The Investigation and Identification Team found that Syrian government forces and Islamic State militants had used banned chemical weapons in the civil war that began in March 2011. The United States first accused Russia in May last year of using chloropicrin, a chemical compound more toxic than riot control agents and first used by Germany during World War One. The OPCW, a disarmament agency in The Hague with 193 member states, said last year that initial accusations levelled by both countries at each other were "insufficiently substantiated".

Both sides have denied using chemical weapons in the conflict, which escalated when Russia invaded Ukraine in February 2022.

"Ukraine hereby requests the Director-General of the OPCW to take steps towards establishing an independent and impartial mechanism (to) investigate cases of alleged use of chemical weapons in Ukraine," a copy of the request shared with Reuters said.

It asked that the mechanism be empowered to "collect additional evidence and identify perpetrators, organisers, sponsors of such use."

It was submitted at the beginning of four days of closed-door meetings by the 41-country Executive Council of the OPCW. The disarmament body had no immediate comment on the request.

At least three Ukrainian deaths have been tied to chemical weapons use, the Dutch Military Intelligence Agency said, while more than 2,500 people injured on the battlefield reported chemical weapons-related symptoms to Ukrainian health authorities.

On Monday, Britain targeted two Russian individuals and one Russian entity as part of its chemical weapons sanctions regime, in its latest effort to punish Moscow for the war in Ukraine.