Introduction

Gunmen opened fire on a group of paramilitary forces in southern Iran, killing one of them and wounding another three, state media reported Sunday.

Motive Unknown

Local media did not give a motive for Saturday’s attack, which occurred on the anniversary of the death while in police custody of 22-year-old Mahsa Amini and the outbreak of nationwide protests. It was unclear if the attack was linked to the anniversary.

Details of the Attack

The official IRNA news agency said the attack targeting members of the paramilitary Basij occurred late Saturday in the town of Nourabad, some 630 kilometers (390 miles) south of the capital, Tehran.

Separate Incident

In a separate incident, a man was shot and wounded by security forces near the city of Saqqez, in Iran’s western region. IRNA said he was shot after entering an area under military restrictions, without elaborating on his condition.

Condition of the Injured Man

A local rights group had earlier reported that he was in critical condition, while the semi-official Fars news agency said he was stable.

Heavy Security Deployment

The anniversary saw a heavy deployment of Iranian security forces in Tehran as well as Kurdish-populated areas.

Death of Mahsa Amini

Amini, who was from the Kurdish region, died Sept. 16, 2022, after being detained by Iran’s morality police in the capital, Tehran, apparently for violating the country’s strict dress code for women.

Protests and Crackdown

The protests over her death spread across the country and featured calls to overthrow Iran’s ruling government. Authorities responded with a heavy crackdown in hundreds of people were allegedly killed and over 22,000 detained, according to rights groups.

Continued Discontent

The protests largely died down early this year but widespread signs of discontent remain. For months after the protests women could be seen flaunting the dress code, prompting authorities to launch a renewed campaign to enforce it over the summer.