France 24’s Observers in collaboration with RFI's Persian service have published an exclusive two-part investigation into the use of shotguns in the protests that have erupted in Iran since the death of Mahsa Amini on September 16th. Using digital investigation methods and with help from Iranian citizens, the Observers team reveals the abusive practices used by the Iranian regime to repress protests in the country. Since its publication on Friday 25 November, the investigation has already been shared more than a million times on Iranian social networks.

Part 1: How EU-made shotgun cartridges ended up being used to repress protests in Iran

The team analyzed more than 100 photos and videos and reveals that some of the shotgun cartridges fired at protesters bear the logo of Cheddite, a French-Italian manufacturer. Cartridges with the Cheddite brand have been widely used by Iranian hunters since at least 2011. European Union sanctions prohibit "the export, directly or indirectly, of equipment that could be used for internal repression" in Iran.

This investigation follows an initial report published on November 3rd : How Iran’s security forces are shooting to kill with ‘non-combat’ shotgun shells

Part 2: Iranian police ‘aim to kill’ using shotguns to repress protests

According to Amnesty International, at least 20 Iranian protesters have died since September after being hit by shotgun fire, victims of the Iranians secu- rity forces who widely use this weapon. Hundreds of Iranians have been severely injured and sometimes blinded by shotgun projectiles. A member of the Basij militia tells the Observers in an exclusive interview about the weapons his unit uses and how they use them.

On Monday 28 November, Ershad Alijani (en) and Derek Thomson (fr) were France 24’s guests in English and French to talk about this exclusive investigation and its impact.

To (re) watch their interview:

• In English
• In French

Since 2019, France 24 Observers has provided several pieces of content to debunk fake news. In 2020, the investigative report «Iran’s Hidden Slaughter» won France’s Diplomatic Press Award.

All investigations can be found on the France 24’s Observers page and on France 24's digital environments (in French, English, Arabic, Spanish, as well as in Persian, with RFI).