Hadis Najafi, a 20-year-old woman shot and killed by security forces, has become the latest symbol of the tragedy, outpouring of grief and defiance that has characterized the nationwide protests in Iran since they began on September 16.

Journalist and women’s rights advocate Masih Alinejad announced her death on September 25, posting her name and a video of her along with the details of her death: shot six times by authorities after tying her unscarved hair back and boldly stepping into the middle of a protest in Karaj.

While Najafi herself was a prominent social figure on TikTok and Instagram, her viral video showed her tying her unscarved hair back and boldly stepping into the middle of a protest in Karaj.

Images and the video of Hadis have been widely shared on social media. According to media reports, she sustained injuries in the abdomen, neck, heart, and hand on September 21. After the attack by security forces, she was taken to Ghaem Hospital, where she later died.

"She was only 20 years old,” Hadis’ sister told Alinejad. “Her heart was broken for Mahsa Amini. She said she would not stay silent. They killed her with six bullets.”

Images and the video of Hadis have sent out shockwaves further sparking the protests going on in Iran since September 16, being widely shared on social media.

Another clip later began circulating online, showing the girl's family weeping over a photo of her on a freshly dug grave.

"This is the funeral of 20-year-old #HadisNajafi, who was shot dead on the streets by security forces for protesting," Masih Alinejad wrote on Twitter, sharing the clip.

"Hadis was a kind-hearted girl & loved dancing. She was protesting against the brutal death of #MahsaAmini. Their crime: wanting freedom."

"She was only 20 years old,” Hadis’ sister told Alinejad. “Her heart was broken for Mahsa Amini. She said she would not stay silent. They killed her with six bullets.”

“Her heart was broken for Mahsa Amini. She said she would not stay silent. They killed her with six bullets.” - Hadis’ sister

Almost 200 miles away in Rasht, reports have emerged that an archeology student arrested during the protests was denied access to medical treatment after he sustained a knife attack in Lakan Prison in Sabze Meydan, Rasht.

The family of Alireza Ghamgosar, who is studying at Kashan University, says he is now being treated in a clinic. They say Ghamgasar told them during a telephone call on September 25 that he was stabbed in the back after being detained on September 21. No details are available about the attack, or about who stabbed him.

35 people have died during the recent protests, according to official media in Iran, but non-Iranian media and other unofficial reports insist the death toll is much higher.

The death of Mahsa Amini

Demonstrations that erupted more than a week ago at the funeral of a 22-year-old Kurdish woman named Mahsa Amini, who died in detention after being arrested by police enforcing the Islamic Republic's strict restrictions on women's dress, have turned into the biggest protests in years.

Clashes continued between security forces and protesters in several northwestern regions, according to sources in the cities of Tabriz, Urmia, Rasht, and Hamedan.

Amini's death has reignited anger in Iran over issues including restrictions on personal freedoms, the strict dress codes for women, and an economy reeling from sanctions.

Women have played a prominent role in the protests, waving and burning their veils. Some have publicly cut their hair as furious crowds called for the downfall of Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei.

The protests are the largest to sweep the country since demonstrations over fuel prices in 2019 when Reuters reported 1,500 people were killed in a crackdown on protesters - the bloodiest bout of internal unrest in the Islamic Republic's history.

UN urges Iran not to use 'unnecessary' force as anti-hijab protest death toll touches 50

Over 50 people have been killed after Iranian security forces cracked down on the crackdown on protests that erupted over the death of 22-year-old Mahsa Amini, who had been detained by the country’s morality police, an Oslo-based Iran Human Rights (IHR) NGO said. 

The Oslo-based Iran Human Rights (IHR) NGO said the rise in the toll came after six people were killed by fire from the security forces in the town of Rezvanshahr in the northern Gilan province on Thursday night, with other deaths recorded in Babol and Amol, also in northern Iran, reported Agence France-Presse (AFP).

United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres has appealed for Iranian security forces to refrain from using "unnecessary or disproportionate force" against anti-government protests.

He also urged everyone to exercise restraint to avoid further escalation, said Guterres' spokesman Stephane Dujarric.

"We are concerned about reports of peaceful protests being met with excessive use of force leading to dozens of deaths and injuries," Dujarric told reporters in New York. "We further call on the authorities to respect the right to freedoms of expression, peaceful assembly and association."

The US National Security Agency (NSA) has said the US treasury and state department were helping expand internet freedom in Iran amid the government crackdown.

“We’ll continue to hold Iranian officials accountable and support the brave Iranians protesting following the death of Mahsa Amini in the custody of Iran‘s Morality Police,” the security agency said.

Elon Musk to activate Starlink

Tesla CEO Elon Musk, who is also the founder of SpaceX, on Friday said he was activating a satellite internet service, Starlink, amid the internet shutdown in Iran. Musk's response came to a tweet by a high-ranking US official who said the US took action "to advance internet freedom and the free flow of information" to Iranians. The US government on Friday issued guidelines to expand internet services to Iranians despite US sanctions over the Islamic Republic's nuclear program.

Musk's response came to a tweet by a high-ranking US official who said the US took action "to advance internet freedom and the free flow of information" to Iranians.

The US government on Friday issued guidelines to expand internet services to Iranians despite US sanctions over the Islamic Republic's nuclear program.

"Our understanding of Starlink is that what they provide would be commercial grade, and it would be hardware that's not covered in the general license, so that would be something they would need to write into Treasury for," a US official was quoted as saying by Reuters.

Later, the US Defence Department said that "anyone who meets the criteria outlined in this general licence can proceed with their activities without requesting additional permission."

Agitators have burnt the statue of Iran’s supreme religious leader Khamenei's statue his own hometown Mashhad amid rising protests after he refrained from commenting on ongoing protests in his first public appearance since anti-regime demonstrations sparked by the death of a young woman in police custody escalated.

Pro-Government rallies held amid massive protests

Counterprotesters held rallies across the country on Friday in a show of support for authorities after a week of anti-government protests. Thousands attended the rally in Tehran, where they waved Iranian flags. Similar demonstrations were held in other cities. However, the government claimed the demonstrations of support were spontaneous.

The pro-government counterprotesters chanted slogans against America and Israel, according to state media.

Amini’s death for "unsuitable attire" attracted strong ire as in recent years, millions of Iranian women have opposed the law which makes hijab compulsory for women in Iran. Under Iran's sharia (Islamic) law, imposed after the 1979 revolution, women are obliged to cover their hair and wear long, loose-fitting clothes to disguise their figures. Violators face public rebuke, fines or arrest. The morality police are charged with enforcing that and other restrictions, which has been criticized in recent years, especially for its treatment of young women.