In Iran, on the one hand, the protest against the death of the Kurdish woman Mehsa Amini is continuing loudly, on the other hand, thousands of people have come out on the streets in support of the government.
Thousands of people took to the streets in support of the hijab and conservative dress code in Tehran and other cities including Ahvaz, Isfahan, Qom and Tabriz on Friday, according to the French news agency AFP.
Iran's Maher news agency has said that "the great demonstration of the Iranian people condemning conspiracies and insulting events against religion took place today."
Oslo-based Kurdish rights group Hengao said security forces opened fire on protesters with "semi-heavy weapons" during overnight clashes in the northern city of Oceania. The report could not be independently verified.
In videos shared online in Babol, protesters were seen setting fire to a large billboard depicting Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei.
Iran Human Rights, an Oslo-based organization, has said that at least 50 people have been killed by security forces in anti-government protests so far.
Iran Human Rights said its latest 50 casualties included six people killed by security forces in the town of Rizvanshahr in northern Gilan province on Thursday night, while other deaths were recorded in Babul and Amul.
Previous figures from the New York-based Center for Human Rights in Iran put the death toll at 36.
The street violence, which International Health Regulations says has spread to 80 towns and cities, was sparked by the killing of 22-year-old Kurd Mehsa Amini.
Iran has imposed strict restrictions on the use of the Internet to prevent the gathering of protesters and prevent images of the reaction from reaching the outside world.
The United States announced on Friday that it is easing export sanctions on Iran to boost internet services.
Deputy Finance Minister Wali Ademu has said the new move will allow technology companies to expand the range of Internet services available to Iranians.
Security forces have arrested activists including Majid Tavakuli, who has been detained several times in recent years after the disputed 2009 elections.
According to Iran's official news agency IRNA, protesters threw stones at security forces, set fire to police vehicles and shouted anti-government slogans.
The Center for Human Rights in Iran said the government responded with live ammunition, pellet guns and tear gas, according to social media videos.
