TEHRAN, Iran — Massive protests rocked Iran in recent weeks but appear to have largely subsided after a brutal crackdown that has left at least 3,117 dead, according to official figures.
That number falls far below the death toll cited by human rights groups.
The U.S.-based Human Rights Activists News Agency, which says it relies on supporters in Iran cross-checking information and that its data goes through “multiple internal checks,” said Friday that the death toll had reached 5,137.
The demonstrations were sparked by economic grievances as the rial currency crashed and inflation soared, morphing into one of the biggest challenges the Islamic Republic faced in the theocracy’s 47-year history, as thousands of people took to the streets to demand the end of the ruling clergy.
It has been difficult to get a clear picture of what transpired in the streets of the Iranian capital during this chaotic time because of an internet blackout that has dragged on for more than two weeks, according to internet monitoring group NetBlocks.
But NBC News documented scenes from the aftermath of the violence on Tehran’s streets.
