India, Jan. 13 -- Sixteen days into the new wave of anti-government nationwide protests in Iran, at least 648 protesters, including nine children under the age of 18, have been killed, and thousands injured, said Iran Human Rights.

At the same time, unverified reports indicate that at least several hundred people, and according to some estimates more than 6,000, may have been killed.

Due to the internet blackout since 8 January and severe restrictions on access to information, it is extremely difficult to independently verify these reports.

The number of people arrested in the recent protests is estimated to exceed 10,000.

Meanwhile, officials of the Islamic Republic have described protesters as rioters, mohareb (enemies of God), terr...