Saturday, September 24, 2022

Hundreds held, internet blocked as Raisi calls ‘to deal decisively’ with Iran demos

Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi on Saturday called “to deal decisively” with protests triggered by the death of a young woman detained by the Islamic Republic’s morality police, prompting a deadly crackdown.

In a phone call with the family of a Basij militiaman allegedly killed by demonstrators in Iran’s second-largest city Mashhad, Raisi stressed “the need to distinguish between protest and disruption of public order and security,” while denouncing the current unrest as “as rioting and evil.”

“[He] emphasized the need to deal decisively with the disruptors of the security and peace of the country,” a statement released by his office said.

The comments came as the Tasnim news agency reported Saturday that Iranian police in just one province have arrested over 700 people since protests began over a week ago.

General Azizollah Maleki, police chief of Guilan province, announced “the arrest of 739 rioters including 60 women,” the Iranian media outlet said. READ MORE