Geneva, Jan. 13 -- United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights Volker Turk on Tuesday expressed alarm over the rising violence against protesters across Iran, saying he was "horrified" by the situation.

In a post on X, Turk said, "The killing of peaceful demonstrators must stop, and the labelling of protesters as 'terrorists' to justify violence against them is unacceptable."

He also criticised Iranian authorities for using excessive force against demonstrators, condemning what he described as a decision "to inflict brutal force to repress legitimate demands for change."

Turk's remarks come as Iranian voices abroad have also raised fresh allegations of atrocities linked to the ongoing unrest.

Prominent Iranian activist and journ...