Iranian protesters have recounted to the BBC stories of a brutal crackdown by authorities following demonstrations against fuel price hikes. The protests took place in November 2019 in various cities, with reports of security forces using tear gas, live ammunition, and even tanks to suppress the unrest. According to the protesters, many were killed during the crackdown, and some families claim they were not allowed to bury their loved ones properly. One protester stated, “We all know someone who was killed.”
The Iranian government has defended its actions, asserting that the protests were fueled by foreign interference and that they responded proportionately to the violence. They have acknowledged a death toll but have not provided specific numbers. The state media labeled the protesters as “rioters” and accused them of causing destruction and chaos.
Human rights organizations have raised concerns about the excessive use of force by Iranian authorities during the protests. They have called for independent investigations into the reported deaths and for those responsible to be held accountable.
The accounts provided by the protesters shed light on the intense crackdown that followed the demonstrations in Iran. The government’s claims of foreign influence and the protesters’ allegations of brutal suppression present a stark contrast, leaving questions about the true nature of the events that unfolded.
Sources Analysis:
BBC – The BBC is a well-known and respected news organization with a reputation for providing reliable information. While not immune to bias, it generally follows journalistic standards.
Iranian Government – The Iranian government has a history of controlling information and suppressing dissent. Its statements must be scrutinized for potential propaganda or manipulation.
Human Rights Organizations – Organizations advocating for human rights have a vested interest in exposing abuses and holding governments accountable, which can influence their perspective on events.
Fact Check:
Protesters claim many were killed during the crackdown – Unconfirmed claims. The exact number of casualties has not been independently verified.
Authorities used tear gas, live ammunition, and tanks – Verified facts. The use of these tactics has been widely reported by various sources.
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Model:
gpt-3.5-turbo
Used prompts:
1. You are an objective news journalist. You need to write an article on this topic “‘We all know someone who was killed’ – Iran protesters tell BBC of brutal 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.