NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte said on Tuesday that the members of the Atlantic Alliance are monitoring the crisis in Iran “day by day,” given the “repulsive” situation and “massive violence” that, in his opinion, Tehran is perpetrating against its own population.
“What is happening in Iran is repulsive. I can assure you that the NATO allies are managing this crisis day by day and are in constant contact regarding it. But I think we can all agree that we wish for the best,” he said during a forum organized at the European Parliament headquarters in Brussels by the liberal group (Renew Europe).
Rutte denounced the use of force and violence against the civilian population and recalled that democracy is not limited solely to the existence of parliaments, but “also includes a free press and the right to protest and express one’s opinions.”
In this regard, the NATO Secretary General accused the Iranian government of using “massive violence” against its own people and referred to the numerous reports indicating the deaths of protesters during the crackdown.
Rutte’s statements come in the context of a strong crackdown by the Iranian authorities against the anti-government protests, which began about two weeks ago in the country’s major cities, fueled by the economic crisis and the worsening living standards in the country.
According to the latest figures released by the US-based NGO HRANA, at least 500 people have died since the start of the protests. Among the victims are 47 members of the security forces, a prosecutor, 483 protesters, eight minors, and five civilians who were not participating in the protests.
The organization also estimates that 10,681 people have been imprisoned after being arrested during the demonstrations and warns that the internet shutdown for the past three days is making it difficult to collect and verify information on the ground.
