Iranian security forces used unlawful force in moving to quell peaceful protests over the downing of a Ukrainian passenger jet, according to Amnesty International.

Authorities arbitrarily detained scores of demonstrators, beating them with batons and firing volleys of rubber bullets and pointed pellets “completely inappropriate for use in any policing situation”, of which the human rights group claims to have evidence in the form of victims’ x-rays.

“The situation in Iran right now is even more painful than death,” a witness in Tehran told Amnesty. ”They are killing us slowly; they are torturing us to death.”

After a brief few days of rare national unity in the wake of Qassem Soleimani’s assassination, the plane’s destruction – and officials’ ensuing denial – saw anti-government sentiment erupt once more, with thousands of demonstrators braving incarceration. Others reportedly risked execution with shouts of “death to the dictator” – a reference to supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei.

The Independent previously reported on footage appearing to show helmet-clad police beating protesters with batons as gun-wielding militiamen roamed the streets, some of which were spattered in blood. Witnesses reported a handful of gunshot victims, yet the police denied using lethal force.

Protests in Iran over downing of plane and tensions with the west Show all 23 1 /23 Protests in Iran over downing of plane and tensions with the west Protests in Iran over downing of plane and tensions with the west Anti-government protest at Amirkabir University Iranian police officers take position while protesters gather in front of Amir Kabir University AP Protests in Iran over downing of plane and tensions with the west Anti-government protest at Amirkabir University Iranians demonstrate following a tribute for the victims of the Ukraine Boeing 737 crash in front of the Amirkabir University in the capital Tehran EPA Protests in Iran over downing of plane and tensions with the west Anti-government protest at Amirkabir University Iranian police dispersed students chanting "radical" slogans during a gathering in Tehran to honour the 176 people killed when an airliner was mistakenly shot down AFP via Getty Protests in Iran over downing of plane and tensions with the west Anti-government protest at Amirkabir University - People hold flowers as tear gas fired by police rises Online videos purported to show that Iranian security forces fired both live ammunition and tear gas to disperse demonstrators protesting against the Islamic Republic's initial denial that it shot down a Ukrainian jetliner AP Protests in Iran over downing of plane and tensions with the west Anti-government protest at Amirkabir University Iranian police officers take position while protesters gather AP Protests in Iran over downing of plane and tensions with the west Anti-government protest at Amirkabir University AFP correspondents said hundreds of students had gathered early in the evening to pay respects to those killed in the air disaster ISNA/AFP via Getty Protests in Iran over downing of plane and tensions with the west Anti-government protest at Amirkabir University Iranian protester prepares to throw a tear gas canister back at police AP Protests in Iran over downing of plane and tensions with the west Anti-government protest at Amirkabir University A protester confronts an Iranian police officer AP Protests in Iran over downing of plane and tensions with the west Anti-government protest at Amirkabir University epa08120223 Iranians protest to show their sympathy with victims of Ukraine International Airlines Boeing 737-800 in front of the Amir Kabir University in Tehran, Iran, 11 January 2020. Media reported that hundreds of Iranians protests in Tehran in solidarity with victims of the Ukraine plane as Iranian military released a statement claiming that Ukraine International Airlines flight PS752 was shot down due to human error. EPA/ABEDIN TAHERKENAREH ABEDIN TAHERKENAREH EPA Protests in Iran over downing of plane and tensions with the west Anti-government protest at Amirkabir University Iranian police officers take position while protesters gathe AP Protests in Iran over downing of plane and tensions with the west Anti-government protest at Amirkabir University Iranians light candles for victims EPA Protests in Iran over downing of plane and tensions with the west Anti-government protest at Amirkabir University epa08120526 Iranians protest to show their sympathy to victims of Ukraine International Airlines Boeing 737-800 in front of the Amir Kabir University in Tehran, Iran, 11 January 2020. The Iranian military released a statement on 11 January 2020 that Ukraine International Airlines flight PS752 was shot down due to 'human error.' The passemger jet en route from Tehran to Kiev crashed minutes after takeoff on 08 January 2020, all all 167 passengers and nine crew members aboard were killed. EPA/ABEDIN TAHERKENAREH ABEDIN TAHERKENAREH EPA Protests in Iran over downing of plane and tensions with the west British embassy protest in Tehran People burn British and Israeli flags during a protest in front of the British embassy, in Tehran. Hundreds of Iranian hardliners gathered for a protest against Britain, a day after the UK ambassador to Iran Robert Macaire was detained after attending a a vigil for the victims of Ukraine passenger jet EPA Protests in Iran over downing of plane and tensions with the west British embassy protestBritish embassy protest in Tehran Chanting "Death to Britain", up to 200 protesters rallied outside the mission a day after the brief arrest of British ambassador Rob Macaire AFP via Getty Protests in Iran over downing of plane and tensions with the west British embassy protest in Tehran epa08122502 Iranian hardliners shout slogans as they gather in front of the British embassy during an anti-Britain protest, in Tehran, Iran, 12 January 2020. According to reports, hundreds of Iranian hardliners gathered for a protest against Britain, a day after the UK ambassador to Iran Robert Macaire was detained after attending a a vigil for the victims of Ukraine passenger jet. EPA/ABEDIN TAHERKENAREH ABEDIN TAHERKENAREH EPA Protests in Iran over downing of plane and tensions with the west British embassy protest in Tehran Iranian demonstrators hold placards bearing the images of slain military commander Qasem Soleimani and Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei in front of the British embassy in the capital Tehran on January 12, 2020 following the British ambassador's arrest for allegedly attending an illegal demonstration. - Chanting "Death to Britain", up to 200 protesters rallied outside the mission a day after the brief arrest of British ambassador Rob Macaire at a memorial for those killed when a Ukraine airliner was shot down. (Photo by ATTA KENARE / AFP) (Photo by ATTA KENARE/AFP via Getty Images) ATTA KENARE AFP via Getty Images Protests in Iran over downing of plane and tensions with the west Protesters chant slogans and hold up posters of Gen. Qassem Soleimani while burning representations of British and Israeli flags, during a demonstration in front of the British Embassy in Tehran, Iran, Sunday, Jan. 12, 2020. A candlelight ceremony late Saturday in Tehran turned into a protest, with hundreds of people chanting against the country's leaders â€” including Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei â€” and police dispersing them with tear gas. Police briefly detained the British ambassador to Iran, Rob Macaire, who said he went to the Saturday vigil without knowing it would turn into a protest. (AP Photo/Ebrahim Noroozi) Ebrahim Noroozi AP Protests in Iran over downing of plane and tensions with the west British embassy protest in Tehran epa08122741 Iranian hardliners gather in front of the British embassy during an anti-Britain protest, in Tehran, Iran, 12 January 2020. According to reports, hundreds of Iranian hardliners gathered for a protest against Britain, a day after the UK ambassador to Iran Robert Macaire was detained after attending a a vigil for the victims of Ukraine passenger jet. EPA/ABEDIN TAHERKENAREH ABEDIN TAHERKENAREH EPA Protests in Iran over downing of plane and tensions with the west A hardline protester holds up a placard during a demonstration in front of the British Embassy in Tehran, Iran, Sunday, Jan. 12, 2020. A candlelight ceremony late Saturday in Tehran turned into a protest, with hundreds of people chanting against the country's leaders â€” including Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei â€” and police dispersing them with tear gas. Police briefly detained the British ambassador to Iran, Rob Macaire, who said he went to the Saturday vigil without knowing it would turn into a protest. (AP Photo/Ebrahim Noroozi) Ebrahim Noroozi AP Protests in Iran over downing of plane and tensions with the west British embassy protest in Tehran epa08122743 Iranian hardliners gather in front of the British embassy during an anti-Britain protest, in Tehran, Iran, 12 January 2020. According to reports, hundreds of Iranian hardliners gathered for a protest against Britain, a day after the UK ambassador to Iran Robert Macaire was detained after attending a a vigil for the victims of Ukraine passenger jet. EPA/ABEDIN TAHERKENAREH ABEDIN TAHERKENAREH EPA Protests in Iran over downing of plane and tensions with the west British embassy protest in Tehran epa08122745 Iranian hardliners gather in front of the British embassy during an anti-Britain protest, in Tehran, Iran, 12 January 2020. According to reports, hundreds of Iranian hardliners gathered for a protest against Britain, a day after the UK ambassador to Iran Robert Macaire was detained after attending a a vigil for the victims of Ukraine passenger jet. EPA/ABEDIN TAHERKENAREH ABEDIN TAHERKENAREH EPA Protests in Iran over downing of plane and tensions with the west British embassy protest in Tehran epa08122786 Iranian hardliners gather in front of the British embassy during an anti-Britain protest, in Tehran, Iran, 12 January 2020. According to reports, hundreds of Iranian hardliners gathered for a protest against Britain, a day after the UK ambassador to Iran Robert Macaire was detained after attending a a vigil for the victims of Ukraine passenger jet. EPA/ABEDIN TAHERKENAREH ABEDIN TAHERKENAREH EPA Protests in Iran over downing of plane and tensions with the west Protesters chant slogans while holding up posters of Gen. Qassem Soleimani during a demonstration in front of the British Embassy in Tehran, Iran, Sunday, Jan. 12, 2020. AP

Another witness told Amnesty how the security forces fired tear gas into the entrance hall of a metro station to stop people leaving to join the protest – an account consistent with footage posted to social media.

“There was so much tear gas,” they said. “I was so mentally stressed and anxious that I initially didn’t even realise that I had been shot ... the special forces of the police were firing pointed pellets at people.

“My coat is now filled with holes and I have bruises on my body. The streets were filled with armed plain-clothed agents firing shots into the air and threatening to shoot people.

“A member of the security forces chased me when they saw me filming the protest and that’s when I was shot in the leg with a pointed pellet.”

Two x-rays obtained by the group clearly show pellets lodged in the knee joint of one protester and the ankle of another.

The same eyewitness claimed authorities had threatened doctors and she was turned away by three medical centres and even a veterinary clinic after seeking treatment.

On Tuesday, she was allegedly told by a doctor in Tehran that she had to leave immediately because if the hospital’s intelligence department discovered she had been among the protesters she would be arrested.

While scores of arrests are believed to have taken place across the country, in Tehran and Amol, Amnesty alleges detainees’ families are being denied information about their fate and whereabouts, amounting to enforced disappearance.

The group has also received allegations of sexual violence against at least one woman arbitrarily arrested by plain-clothes officers. The woman was allegedly taken to a room in the police station for questioning, where a security official forced her to perform oral sex on him and attempted to rape her.

“Iran’s security forces have once again carried out a reprehensible attack on the rights of Iranian people to peaceful expression and assembly, and resorted to unlawful and brutal tactics,” said Amnesty’s Middle East research and advocacy director, Philip Luther.

“The Iranian authorities must end the repression as a matter of urgency and ensure the security forces exercise maximum restraint and respect protesters’ rights to peaceful expression and assembly.

Effigy of UK ambassador to Iran set on fire in Tehran

“Detainees must be protected from torture and other ill-treatment, and all those who have been arbitrarily detained must be released.”

Protests erupted in November, sparked by a fuel price hike amid punishing US sanctions, which Donald Trump has demanded be reinforced. Hundreds of thousands eventually turned out to rail against poverty, government corruption and the regime’s incorrigible nature.

Between 300 and 1,500 people are believed to have been killed, and thousands detained, but a government-enforced internet shutdown served to obscure details of the protests and their death toll.

The demonstrations – believed to be the largest since the 1979 revolution – stalled with the US killing of Soleimani, but reignited in a diminished but no less enraged fashion with the regime’s downing of Ukrainian Airlines flight 752, which killed all 176 people on board.