"When Donald Trump, said he would rescue protesters if Iranian authorities started shooting, Siavash Shirzad believed the US president. The 38-year-old father had seen protests rise up before, only to be brutally crushed by authorities. But this was the first time in his life that the president of the United States had promised to help demonstrators. Reassured, Shirzad took to the streets, ignoring his family's warnings and joining the growing crowds."
"Authorities started shooting, but no help came. On 8 January, the internet was shut off and Iran went dark, Shirzad was shot at a protest in Tehran and died of his wounds hours later, leaving behind a 12-year-old son. Siavash hoped until the very end that Trump's help would arrive, his cousin said, speaking anonymously for fear of repercussions. We told him: Don't go, it's dangerous.' But he gave a firm answer: Trump said he supports us, I'm going.'"
Donald Trump publicly promised to rescue Iranian protesters if authorities started shooting, prompting some people to trust that help would arrive. Siavash Shirzad, a 38-year-old father, joined Tehran demonstrations after believing the promise and was shot; he died hours later, leaving a 12-year-old son. On 8 January the internet was shut off and Iran experienced a communications blackout. Trump urged Iranians to keep protesting and later walked back calls for intervention, saying he had assurances authorities would not execute anyone. Despite that, security forces continued killings, provincial protests persisted, mass arrests occurred, and residents feared executions once international attention shifted.
Read at www.theguardian.com
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