An anonymous artist has turned fountains across Tehran red overnight following the government’s violent crackdown on protests sparked by the death of Mahsa Amini.
A number of fountains across the city appeared as if filled with blood on Friday, with the dramatic change reportedly attributable to an anonymous artist or activist.
The red liquid in the fountains’ basins has been referred to as a protest artwork whose title roughly translates to “Tehran sinking in blood,” the Middle Eastern Eye reports.
The new graphic appearance of the fountains comes amid protests across Iran and internationally, with demonstrators calling for the downfall of Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei.
Mahsa Amini died after being arrested in Tehran last month for not following her country's rules requiring women to wear a hijab. She was held in capital Tehran on September 13 for “inappropriate attire” and died three days later.
Mahsa’s family insist the young woman was beaten to death, something police in Tehran have denied. They have said she was beaten to death and claimed that during a session of "justification and education", the young woman "suddenly suffered a heart problem".
Late last week, water fountains in Daneshjoo Park, Shahr Theatre, Fatemi Square and Artists’ Park in the Iranian capital were turned red as part of the artwork.
Video footage of the pools shared on social media showed the water coloured a deep crimson.
The video and Images of the blood-red fountains were shared by the 1500tasvir social media channel, which monitors violations in Iran.
The water had since been drained from the fountains.
The protests that have been seen across Iran have been met with a brutal crackdown from authorities.
According to the Oslo-based group Iran Human Rights, at least 92 protesters have been killed so far.
Other groups have put the death toll much higher.
The family of Mahsa Amini have today said that they are receiving death threats and have been warned not to take part in the demonstrations.
Speaking to the BBC, her cousin said: "Our family have been under immense pressure from the Islamic Republic's officials, so we don't talk to human rights organisations or channels outside of Iran and inform anyone from the outside world about her passing."
He said that the threats that his family members had received have made them fear for their safety.
"The regime's officials have threatened us through Instagram with fake accounts, and told the family members in Iran that if they get involved in the protests, they might be killed," he said.
"Myself, I have been receiving many threats over the phone, [saying] that if they see me in the city, they will kidnap me and kill me."
