New protests in Iran as another teenager is killed

Iran has for more than six weeks been gripped by protests sparked by the death of Mahsa Amini, who was arrested by notorious vice police - a move that poses the greatest challenge to the Islamic republic since the 1979 revolution. .

The clerical leadership under Ayatollah Khamenei, 83, has responded with a crackdown that, as well as killing dozens, has so far seen 1,000 people charged and, activists say, facing the penalty of death.

With the movement showing no signs of waning, problems for authorities are compounded by Iran's tradition of holding a "chehelom" mourning ceremony 40 days after a death, meaning each new murder can fuel new protest actions.

A Norway-based group, Iran Human Rights, said large numbers of people in the city of Karaj, outside Tehran, were attending a 40-day ceremony honoring Hadis on Thursday Najafi, a 22-year-old activist who activists say was killed by security forces in September.

IHR said police blocked the highway leading to the cemetery to prevent even larger numbers from attending.

“This year is the year of blood, Seyyed Ali (Khamenei) will be overthrown,” the video showed them chanting.

AFP