A two-year investigation by FRANCE 24 has revealed that hunting cartridges produced by the French-Italian ammunition manufacturer Cheddite were used in Iran during the violent crackdown on the "Woman, Life, Freedom" protests in 2022. The investigation uncovers how these cartridges are widely available in Iran, despite European sanctions imposed in 2011. It appears the ammunition may have been routed through Turkey, where Cheddite at one point held shares in a weapons manufacturing company. This investigation, broadcast by FRANCE 24, sheds light on the dealings that allowed the ammunition to reach Iranian soil, despite international sanctions.
In the autumn of 2022, protests engulfed Iran after the death of Mahsa Amini, who was killed by the country's notorious morality police following her arrest for allegedly wearing her headscarf improperly. The regime's response was brutal: security forces opened fire on protesters with live ammunition. According to the UN, at least 550 people were killed over the course of six months.
