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Mahsa Amini: Vigil held for Iranian woman who died in police custody
A vigil was held for Mahsa Amini, the Iranian woman who died in police custody.
LOS ANGELES - Thousands of protesters flooded the streets of downtown Los Angeles Saturday in support of Iranians standing up to their leadership over the death of Mahsa Amini, who died in police custody.
The Freedom Rally for Iran drew thousands to Los Angeles City Hall. According to organizers, the protests that ensued have "demanded an end to the deeply misogynistic political and legal system that Iran's dictatorship has imposed on its people for more than four decades."
Demonstrators hold Iran's flag during a protest for Mahsa Amini who died in custody of Iran's morality police, in Los Angeles, California, on October 1, 2022. - (Photo by APU GOMES/AFP via Getty Images) Maryam Spadana cuts her hair during a protest for Mahsa Amini who died in custody of Iran's morality police, in front of the Los Angeles City Hall, Los Angeles, California, on October 1, 2022. (Photo by APU GOMES/AFP via Getty Images) Demonstrators hold Iran's flag during a protest for Mahsa Amini who died in custody of Iran's morality police, in Los Angeles, California, on October 1, 2022. (Photo by APU GOMES/AFP via Getty Images) Women demonstrate during a protest for Mahsa Amini who died in custody of Iran's morality police, in front of the Los Angeles City Hall, Los Angeles, California, on October 1, 2022. (Photo by APU GOMES/AFP via Getty Images) Demonstrators hold Iran's flag during a protest for Mahsa Amini who died in custody of Iran's morality police, in Los Angeles, California, on October 1, 2022. (Photo by APU GOMES/AFP via Getty Images) Demonstrators hold Iran's flag during a protest for Mahsa Amini who died in custody of Iran's morality police, in Los Angeles, California, on October 1, 2022. (Photo by APU GOMES/AFP via Getty Images) A woman holds a dummy doll representing Iran's Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei in a noose during a protest for Mahsa Amini who died in custody of Iran's morality police, in front of the Los Angeles City Hall, Los Angeles, California, on October 1, 2022. (Photo by APU GOMES/AFP via Getty Images) A woman holds a sign during a march in support of the global protest after the death of Mahsa Amini in Iran on October 01, 2022 in Downtown Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Katie McTiernan/Anadolu Agency via Getty Images) A crowd gathers with signs and flags, as part of a global protest after the death of Mahsa Amini in Iran on October 01, 2022 in Downtown Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Katie McTiernan/Anadolu Agency via Getty Images) Activists at Los Angeles City Hall, gather in support of the global protest after the death of Mahsa Amini in Iran on October 01, 2022 in Downtown Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Katie McTiernan/Anadolu Agency via Getty Images) Activists at Los Angeles City Hall, gather in support of the global protest after the death of Mahsa Amini in Iran on October 01, 2022 in Downtown Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Katie McTiernan/Anadolu Agency via Getty Images) A woman holds signs during a march in support of the global protest after the death of Mahsa Amini in Iran on October 01, 2022 in Downtown Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Katie McTiernan/Anadolu Agency via Getty Images) A crowd gathers with signs and flags, as part of a global protest after the death of Mahsa Amini in Iran on October 01, 2022 in Downtown Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Katie McTiernan/Anadolu Agency via Getty Images) A crowd gathers with signs and flags, as part of a global protest after the death of Mahsa Amini in Iran on October 01, 2022 in Downtown Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Katie McTiernan/Anadolu Agency via Getty Images) A crowd marches in support of the global protest after the death of Mahsa Amini in Iran on October 01, 2022 in Downtown Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Katie McTiernan/Anadolu Agency via Getty Images) Activists at Los Angeles City Hall, gather in support of the global protest after the death of Mahsa Amini in Iran on October 01, 2022 in Downtown Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Katie McTiernan/Anadolu Agency via Getty Images) Activists at Los Angeles City Hall, gather in support of the global protest after the death of Mahsa Amini in Iran on October 01, 2022 in Downtown Los Angeles, California.(Photo by Katie McTiernan/Anadolu Agency via Getty Images) A crowd gathers with signs and flags, as part of a global protest after the death of Mahsa Amini in Iran on October 01, 2022 in Downtown Los Angeles. (Photo by Katie McTiernan/Anadolu Agency via Getty Images) Thousands of Iranians have taken to the streets over the last two weeks to protest the death of Amini, a 22-year-old woman who had been detained by Iran’s morality police in the capital of Tehran for allegedly not adhering to Iran’s strict Islamic dress code.
Scattered anti-government protests appeared to break out in Tehran and running clashes with security forces in other towns, social media reports showed on Sunday, even as the government has moved to block, partly or entirely, internet connectivity in Iran.
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The protesters have vented their anger over the treatment of women and wider repression in the Islamic Republic. The nationwide demonstrations rapidly escalated into calls for the overthrow of the clerical establishment that has ruled Iran since its 1979 Islamic revolution.
Iranian state TV has reported that at least 41 protesters and police have been killed since the demonstrations began Sept. 17. An Associated Press count of official statements by authorities tallied at least 14 dead, with more than 1,500 demonstrators arrested.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.