One killed in Iran’s Khuzestan water crisis protests

Officials and victim’s father blame rioters for the death that occurred in the Khuzestan province town of Shadegan.

A young man was shot dead during a second night of protests over water shortages in southwest Iran, state news agency IRNA has reported. Iran is facing its worst drought in 50 years, with protests breaking out in several cities and towns in Khuzestan province over the water crisis, which has affected households, devastated agriculture and livestock farming, and led to power blackouts. The deadly incident came on Friday in the Khuzestan town of Shadegan, Omid Sabripour, the county’s acting governor, told IRNA on Saturday, blaming the death on “opportunists and rioters”.