Weapons and forces of repression

During the ongoing nationwide protests in Iran, the presence of FARAJA forces Especially the Special Units has been more than previous protests. Along FARAJA forces, also the members of the Imam Ali security battalions, which are affiliated with the Basij forces and ultimately under the command of the IRGC ground forces suppressing played a major role in the suppression of unarmed Protestors.
In addition to common anti-riot equipment such as tear gas, pepper sprays, shockers, and batons, the repressive forces also used other tools that have been deadly at times. In the following article, we try to examine such tools.

Paintball Guns

The paintball gun, which can be bought and sold in the market, is designed as a weapon for playing or using in sport clubs. This gun, which is mainly made of aluminum, works with various gases, including CO2 gas, compressed air, or nitrogen.
The caliber of this weapon is 0.68, it has a range of approximately 45 meters, and it can hold up to 200 bullets per load and operate semi-automatically.
Paintball guns are not included in the category of deadly weapons, but several cases of reports have been submitted to Spreading Justice, which show that the security forces which based on their Uniforms mostly belong to Faraja, use this type of weapons to target sensitive parts such as the faces of protesters, which in cases have caused injury, especially in the eye area. Spreading Justice has documented the dangerous use of these weapons in Tehran, Mashhad, Rasht, Karaj and Sanandaj.

Shotguns

A shotgun is a type of gun that has a groove-less barrel and fires a large number of spherical pallets at the target in each shot. This type of gun is usually used in hunting and sports and sometimes in war and for police forces. Shotguns range usually does not exceed 100 meters. Most two-barrel guns fall under this division of firearms.
A shotgun cartridge usually has a cardboard or plastic casing called shotshell, and its size is expressed by a number that is sometimes called caliber in Farsi, analogously to bullet guns.
Shotguns usually exist in the form of long barreled or waist guns, but evidence found so far indicates that the only ones used in facing protesters are long-barreled types.
This weapon is the weapon that has been systematically used most often in the face of recent protesters in various cities by plain clothes or uniformed forces.
According to the documents collected by the Spreading Justice, the most shotshells used in these weapons in the recent protests were 12mm pallets, which usually hold 9 bullets and can be deadly if used at a distance of less than 40 meters.
After studying the forensic documents and speaking to Eyewitnesses, Spreading Justice confirms that the death of Mohammad-Javad Zahedi in City of Sari, has been due to the use of this type of weapon by FARAJA forces.
More so, Spreading Justice has talked to at least three doctors who have treated the injured in recent incidents. According to the testimony of these doctors and based on their firsthand experience, they reported more than 80 cases that were wounded by pallets from shotguns. It should be noted that this large number is based on the witness of only three doctors in the cities of Tehran, Rasht and Karaj.
According to testimonies and reliable video documentation, the pallets did not only hit the lower body of the protestors, but they were found in various parts of the body including the face and torso. This shows that contrary to the statements of law enforcement officials, the forces present at the scene have used this weapon, which can be deadly, by firing blindly at the protesters.
In addition to unbranded ammunition, the Spreading Justice has seen picture of used shotshells, which belong to the Maham company, which is a subsidiary of Iran’s Ministry of Defense.

Assault rifles

Based on the Reports received by the Spreading Justice, the war weapons used to suppress protestors were mostly one of the three:
1. Kalashnikova
2. Heckler & Koch G3
3. Steyr HS .50
Considering that Spreading Justice have not received enough evidence to confirm the use of Steyr HS .50, this type of weapon and its use will be discussed in the future reports as we receive additional information. This report will focus on the use of Kalashnikova and G3 for suppression of protestors.
Kalashnikova (known as: Kalash or AK-47) is an assault rifle that operates with gas and is chambered for 7.62 x 39mm cartridge. The effective firing range for a AK-47 is between 300 to 400m and its maximum range is 2000m. the standard magazine capacity if this weapon is 30 or 75 rounds drum magazines.
Another weapon that falls under this category is Heckler & Koch G3. This weapon has caliber of 7.62 and 51mm bullets. Its effective firing range is 200 to 400m and its standard magazine capacity is 30 as well as up to 100 round drum magazines.
Eventhough the two mentioned deadly weapons have been use less frequently compared to previous protests, however in the cases that the use of these weapons has been documented during these protests, we can mention the use of Kalashnikova and Heckler & Koch G3 in the massacre of Zahedan that came to be known as bloody Friday of Zahedan, and the use of Kalashnikova in the deadly attacks on Sanandaj.
According to the opinion of the doctors with whom the Spreading Justice consulted, the effects of this weapon can be seen on the bodies of some victims, including Omid Sarani and Matin Ghanbarzehi.
As mentioned, the death of about 90 Baloch protesters in the event of Black Friday in Zahedan is considered the most concrete evidence of the use of these weapons against the protesters.
Considering the extent of protests in 110 cities and 70 universities, Spreading Justice cannot consider the use of these weapons as dominant way of suppressing the protestors in recent protests, however it confirms the use as of the two deadly weapons against protestors at least in the two mentioned cities of Zahedan and Sanandaj.

Handguns

There are many types of handguns, but according to the Spreading Justice in consultation with experts, the most common type that is available to the FARAJA forces is the German Sig Sauer type, which is known as Zoaf in Iran.
This 9mm semi-automatic weapon is armed with direct gas pressure and its barrel is air-cooled.
This weapon is used in short distances and its magazine usually holds 8 bullets.
Other weapons such as Revolvers and various Glock or Beretta are also used in the military forces, however they are not considered for this report due to the lack of evidence of their use during recent protests.
By examining the available evidence, Spreading Justice can confirm that this deadly weapon has been used by FARAJA uniformed officers in at least four locations in Zahedan, Karaj, Rasht, and Tehran.
The use of this weapon in a short range is deadly, however, considering the extent of the protests, Spreading Justice does not confirm its systematic use, but it has definitely been used against the protesters in some cases.