VIDEO: Iranian women take off their headscarves during protest, at least 50 dead

Gulf Today Report

At least 50 people have been killed in a crackdown by Iranian security forces following protests that erupted following the death of Mahsa Amini while she was in the custody of the morality police, an NGO said.

The Oslo-based NGO Iran Human Rights (IHR) said the rise in the toll came after six people died after being attacked by security forces in the town of Rezvanshahr, in the northern province of Gilan, on Thursday evening.

Video footage posted on social media showed Iranian women taking off their headscarves as protesters cheer them on during a rally in Iran's city of Saveh.

Demonstrations have spread to most major urban centres after the death of Kurdish woman Mahsa in police custody after her arrest last week by Iran's morality police for allegedly wearing a hijab in an "improper" way.

Other deaths were recorded in Babol and Amol, also in northern Iran.

There have been protests in about 80 cities and other urban centers since the protests began a week ago, he added.

Human rights groups have also reported deaths in the northern Kurdistan region, where Amini is from.

State-organised demonstrations took place in several Iranian cities to counter nationwide anti-government unrest triggered by Amini’s death in police custody, with marchers calling for the execution of "rioters.

On the other hand, American tech firms will be allowed to expand their business in Iran, where most Internet access has been cut off in response to anti-government protests, the Treasury Department said on Friday.