Following Mahsa Amini’s death in custody after improperly wearing her hijab, Iran’s Human Rights Activists News Agency (HRANA) estimated that 222 people have been killed in the past month for their involvement in protests.

A report by BBC news verified as many identities as possible of people who have been killed in custody or by police brutality following the uprising for justice. The victims have been reported to be as young as 12 years old. According to the report, the internet in Iran is heavily censored and journalists who report on this are in danger of backlash from the Iranian government.

A fire with mysterious circumstances broke out in Evin Prison in Iran on Oct. 15 and four prisoners died with 61 others injured, according to BBC. The report said many of the victims were teenagers. Evin Prison is where many protestors were taken after being arrested. Protestors outside the prison chanted “death to the dictator” during the time of the fire.

Tehran’s governor claimed the fire was a result of rioting in the prison, according to BBC. Journalists have raised suspicions of authorities starting the fire intentionally because a high profile prisoner was sent home prior to the fire.

According to BBC, Mehdi Hashemi Rafsanjani, the son of late former president of Iran Akbar Hashemi Rafsanjani was granted “early temporary release” according to his brother. 

Democracy is under attack on our own soil as well, as evidenced by the insurrection of the White House on January 6 which recently resulted in subpoenas for documents from some of Donald Trump’s closest allies and family members according to CNN. The insurrectionists believed the 2020 election results to be fraudulent, despite the lack of evidence presented in court to support these theories.

Democracy and individual liberty worldwide are under attack, as Italy also welcomed their most fascist prime minister since World War II, Georgia Meloni.

The Observer staff stands with protestors in Iran, and we stand for the light of truth and justice to shine in the court hearings trying people for conspiracy and spreading misinformation. What is just will find its way forward, however the lives of young Iranian prisoners will never be reclaimed. All we can do now is remember those lost and use our voice to say we do not stand for lies, discrimination or tyranny.