The Weapons the Iranian Government Uses Against Protesters

Statistics published by human rights activists indicate that at least 448 people, including 63 children, lost their lives in the first 70 days of the protests in Iran. As of November 28th, 6 people, including children, were being killed by government forces every day. 

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Apart from assaulting and even killing people with batons and truncheons, security forces also used firearms against protesters, which Iran Open Data has identified. 

Iran Open Data research shows that government forces used at least 6 types of firearms, some of which are categorized as combat or assault weapons. Other types of arms, though not technically classified as combat weapons, were also used to kill protesters. 

1. AK-47
The notorious Kalashnikov is one of the most common assault rifles. All Iranian armed forces have this weapon in their arsenal. This weapon has Russian origins, but there have been reports of domestic production, as well as imports of Kalashnikovs from Russia.

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2. SVD Sniper Rifle
SVD, made by Dragunov, is a semi-automatic sniper rifle formerly made in the Soviet Union. This is an assault rifle, and functions similarly to the AK-47. Reports of home-based production of this weapon and its distribution to the armed forces have been circulating on social media. During the 2022 protests, reports of sniper rifles targeting protesters appeared in Radio Zamaneh, which confirmed that SVD was used to target protesters. 

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3. Pistols and other handguns 
Various types of handguns are commonly in use among the military police and other security forces in the Islamic Republic. Certain types of handguns are made inside Iran. During the 2022 protests, social media users published photos of police officers shooting protesters with handguns.

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4. Sixteen-caliber shotguns
Shotguns were the firearms most frequently used by Islamic Republic forces to combat protests. During the 2022 protests, police and military forces used shotguns to kill some protesters.

Usually, shotgun wounds are not fatal, but they can cause severe, sometimes permanent, injuries. That said, using certain types of ammunition or firing the gun inappropriately can still lead to fatalities.

Reports indicate that special shotgun ammunitions were used in the 2022 protests, and were supplied, inexplicably, by western companies.
4-1. Birdshots consist of tiny pellets. These shells are generally used for hunting birds. Their range is less than 50 meters. 
4-2. Buckshots have a shorter range but are stronger and can lead to death. Their range is about 35 meters. 
4-3. Shotgun Slugs are the most powerful shotgun ammunition and have a single large projectile. This is deadly ammunition, and its range is about 100 meters.

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5. Paintball
Riot police have a history of using paintballs. Although this weapon is not fatal, it is painful and can cause damage to sensitive tissues, such as eyes and face. There have been many reports of injuries as a result of the use of this weapon in the 2022 protests. 

6. Projectile launchers
Hand grenade launchers are crowd control weapons used to throw tear gas canisters. 

Launchers are among the most common anti-riot equipment. In the 2022 protests, police have fired these launchers against protesters at close range, according to some reports. 


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