Appropriating the death count: Manufacturing consent for an attack on Iran
AI Summary
Following protests in Iran between January 8-10, 2026, conflicting reports emerged regarding the death toll. The Iranian government reported 3,117 deaths, while external estimates ranged from 5,000 to 36,500. The article contends that these inflated, unverified figures are being used to garner international support for a potential attack on Iran and to minimize the reported death toll in Gaza. Human rights organizations, like HRANA, are working to verify the number of deaths, but the rapid pace and challenges of verification raise concerns about reliability. The UN Special Rapporteur on Iran estimates around 5,000 deaths, while acknowledging unverified reports of up to 20,000.
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This article was automatically classified using rule-based analysis. The political bias score ranges from -1 (far left) to +1 (far right).
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