Grief and fear persist in Iran after protests

The protests that demanded the ouster of Iran’s clerical rulers have subsided, but many Iranians describe a pervasive mood of collective grief and uncertainty. Teachers talk about slain students and cry during recess, college students are boycotting final exams in honor of classmates, and young people say they are struggling with survivor’s guilt.

Mariam, a 54-year-old designer who asked to be identified only by her first name, said she panics whenever her teenage son leaves the house because he had friends who were shot and killed. The government’s crackdown and the arrests of dissidents, including prominent reformist figures, have left many feeling the standoff is not over.

The government said about 3,400 people were killed — among them 200 children and minors and 100 college students — and at least 500 security officers; rights groups such as HRANA say the death toll is at least 7,000. More than a hundred videos and images show security forces in uniform and on motorcycles firing directly at unarmed protesters.

Iran

iran, protests, death toll, government crackdown, security forces, hrana, students, teachers, student boycott, survivor guilt