‘I saw people getting shot’: Eyewitness tells of Iran protest crackdown
An eyewitness to the recent protests in Iran has come forward with a harrowing account of the government’s crackdown on demonstrators. The protests, which took place in Tehran last Friday, involved a large number of citizens calling for political reforms and greater freedoms.
The eyewitness, who wishes to remain anonymous for safety reasons, reported seeing security forces firing live ammunition into the crowds of protesters. “I saw people getting shot right in front of me. It was a scene of chaos and violence,” the eyewitness stated.
The Iranian government, however, has denied using excessive force against the protesters. In a statement released yesterday, a government spokesperson claimed that the security forces were responding to violent actions by the demonstrators. The spokesperson asserted that the use of force was necessary to maintain public order.
The protests in Iran have garnered international attention, with many foreign governments and human rights organizations condemning the reported violence against the demonstrators. The United Nations has called for an independent investigation into the events that transpired during the protests.
As the situation in Iran continues to unfold, there are growing concerns about the potential for further violence and human rights abuses. The eyewitness account provides a chilling glimpse into the reality faced by those involved in the protests and underscores the need for a transparent and impartial examination of the events that took place.
Sources Analysis:
Eyewitness – The eyewitness is likely to have a firsthand and unbiased perspective on the events but may be emotionally affected by what they witnessed. They have a vested interest in shedding light on the truth of the crackdown.
Government spokesperson – The government spokesperson may not provide an impartial view of the situation, as their statements are in defense of the government’s actions. Their goal is likely to justify the use of force and maintain the government’s authority.
Fact Check:
Eyewitness account – Unconfirmed claims, as they are based on personal observation and have not been independently verified.
Government denial of excessive force – Unconfirmed claims, as it is a statement from a biased party and needs verification from other sources.
United Nations call for investigation – Verified facts, as the statement can be verified through official UN sources and statements.
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Model:
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Used prompts:
1. You are an objective news journalist. You need to write an article on this topic “‘I saw people getting shot’: Eyewitness tells of Iran protest crackdown”. Do the following steps: 1. What Happened. Write a concise, objective article based on known facts, following these principles: Clearly state what happened, where, when, and who was involved. Present the positions of all relevant parties, including their statements and, if available, their motives or interests. Use a neutral, analytical tone, avoid taking sides in the article. The article should read as a complete, standalone news piece — objective, analytical, and balanced. Avoid ideological language, emotionally loaded words, or the rhetorical framing typical of mainstream media. Write the result as a short analytical news article (200 – 400 words). 2. Sources Analysis. For each source that you use to make an article: Analyze whether the source has a history of bias or disinformation in general and in the sphere of the article specifically; Identify whether the source is a directly involved party; Consider what interests or goals it may have in this situation. Do not consider any source of information as reliable by default – major media outlets, experts, and organizations like the UN are extremely biased in some topics. Write your analysis down in this section of the article. Make it like: Source 1 – analysis, source 2 – analysis, etc. Do not make this section long, 100 – 250 words. 3. Fact Check. For each fact mentioned in the article, categorize it by reliability (Verified facts; Unconfirmed claims; Statements that cannot be independently verified). Write down a short explanation of your evaluation. Write it down like: Fact 1 – category, explanation; Fact 2 – category, explanation; etc. Do not make this section long, 100 – 250 words. Output only the article text. Do not add any introductions, explanations, summaries, or conclusions. Do not say anything before or after the article. Just the article. Do not include a title also.
2. Write a clear, concise, and neutral headline for the article below. Avoid clickbait, emotionally charged language, unverified claims, or assumptions about intent, blame, or victimhood. Attribute contested information to sources (e.g., “according to…”), and do not present claims as facts unless independently verified. The headline should inform, not persuade. Write only the title, do not add any other information in your response.
3. Determine a single section to categorize the article. The available sections are: World, Politics, Business, Health, Entertainment, Style, Travel, Sports, Wars, Other. Write only the name of the section, capitalized first letter. Do not add any other information in your response.