Iran places Mahsa Amini’s family under house arrest: Report

Iranian authorities have placed Mahsa Amini’s family members under house arrest, Al Arabiya reported on Thursday.

“We hold the Iranian authorities responsible for the killing of Mahsa Amini at the hands of the security forces,” Irfan Murtazai, a cousin of Amini confirmed in a call with Al Arabiya.

Protests took place in Amini’s hometown of Saqqez and other parts of Iran on Wednesday to mark 40 days since she died in police custody, videos shared on social media showed.

Iranian security forces reportedly opened fire at people who gathered at the cemetery where Mahsa Amini is buried, a witness told Reuters.

Demonstrations have swept across Iran since September 16 when 22-year-old Amini died three days after collapsing in police custody.

The demonstrations have become one of the boldest challenges to the Islamic Republic’s clerical leadership since the 1979 Iranian Revolution with protesters calling for regime change.

Over 200 protesters have been killed and thousands have been arrested, according to rights groups.