DUBAI: Iran’s parliamentary speaker warned on Sunday that protests over the death of a young woman in police custody could destabilize the country and urged security forces to deal vigorously with those who claimed to endanger public order. as the nationwide unrest entered its third week.
Posts on social media showed anti-government protests in Tehran and clashes with security forces in other cities on Sunday, even as the government partially or completely cut internet connectivity in Iran. Went to block.
Parliament Speaker Mohammad Bagher Kalibaf According to the legislative body’s website, unlike the current protests, which he said are aimed at toppling the government, previous demonstrations by teachers and retirees were aimed at reforms.
Kalibaf said, “The important point of the (past) protests was that they were seeking reform and were not aimed at overthrowing the system.” I ask all those who have any (cause) protest, they Do not allow your opposition to destabilize you. and demolition of institutions”.
Thousands of Iranians have taken to the streets to protest the death of mahsa amini22, who was detained by Iran’s ethics police in the capital Tehran for allegedly not following Iran’s strict Islamic dress code.
Protesters have vented their anger over the treatment of women and widespread repression in the Islamic Republic. Nationwide demonstrations grew rapidly to overthrow the clerical establishment that had ruled Iran since the 1979 Islamic Revolution.
Iranian state TV has reported that at least 41 protesters and police have been killed since the demonstrations began on September 17. An Associated Press count of official statements by officials killed at least 14 people, with more than 1,500 protesters arrested.
Kalibaf, the parliamentary speaker, is a former influential commander in the paramilitary Islamic Revolutionary Guard. Along with the President and the head of the judiciary, he is one of the three ranking officers who deal with all important issues of the nation.
The three meet regularly and occasionally meet with Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, who has the final say on all matters of the state.
Kalibaf said he believed that many of the participants in the recent protests initially had no intention of overthrowing the government and claimed that foreign-based opposition groups aimed to break the system. Was doing. Iranian officials have not presented evidence for their allegations of foreign involvement in the protests.
“Creating anarchy in the streets will undermine social integrity, jeopardize the economy while increasing pressure and sanctions by the enemy,” he said, referring to longstanding US sanctions on Iran.
Kalibaf promised to “amend the structure and methods of the Ethics Police” to prevent a recurrence of what happened to Amini. He died in the custody of morality police. His family alleged that he was beaten up, while officials claim that he died of a heart attack.
His remarks came after a closed parliament meeting and a brief rally by lawmakers in support of Khamenei and the police, chanting “death to hypocrites” in a reference to Iranian opposition groups.
Kalibaf’s statement is being seen as an appeal to Iranians to stop their protests while supporting the police and security apparatus.
Meanwhile, the radical Kahan daily said on Sunday that protesters carrying knives attacked the newspaper building on Saturday and smashed windows with rocks. It said they left when members of the guard were stationed at the site.
On Saturday, protests continued on the Tehran university campus and surrounding areas, and witnesses said they saw several girls waving scarves over their heads in a gesture of defiance. Social media allegedly played videos showing similar protests in Mashhad and Shiraz University but the Associated Press could not independently verify their authenticity.
A protester near Tehran University, 19-year-old Fatemeh, who only gave her first name out of fear of repercussions, said she joined the demonstration “to stop this behavior by the police against young people, especially girls.”
Abdolali, a 63-year-old teacher, who also declined to give his last name, said he was shot twice in the leg by police. He said: “I am here to support and support my daughter. I once participated in the Islamic Revolution of 1979 that promised justice and freedom; The time has come to make them come true.”
Protests resumed on Sunday in several cities, including Mashhad, according to social media reports and Tehran’s Sharif Industrial University, according to the semi-official Tasnim news agency. Witnesses said security was tight in Tehran University and its surrounding areas as hundreds of anti-riot police and plainclothes with their cars and motorcycles were stationed at junctions and squares. The AP could not immediately verify the authenticity of the reports.
Also on Sunday, media outlets reported the death of another Revolutionary Guard member in the southeastern city of Zahedan. According to state media, the number of IRG members killed in an attack on a police station by gunmen rose to five, in which 19 people were killed.
It was not clear whether the attack, which Iranian officials said was carried out by separatists, was related to anti-government protests.
Local media said a police officer was also killed in the Kurdish city. marivano, following injuries during clashes with protesters. The protests have attracted supporters of various ethnic groups, including Kurdish opposition movements in Iran’s northwest that operate along the border with neighboring Iraq.
Amini was an Iranian Kurd and was first opposed in the Kurdish regions.
Posts on social media showed anti-government protests in Tehran and clashes with security forces in other cities on Sunday, even as the government partially or completely cut internet connectivity in Iran. Went to block.
Parliament Speaker Mohammad Bagher Kalibaf According to the legislative body’s website, unlike the current protests, which he said are aimed at toppling the government, previous demonstrations by teachers and retirees were aimed at reforms.
Kalibaf said, “The important point of the (past) protests was that they were seeking reform and were not aimed at overthrowing the system.” I ask all those who have any (cause) protest, they Do not allow your opposition to destabilize you. and demolition of institutions”.
Thousands of Iranians have taken to the streets to protest the death of mahsa amini22, who was detained by Iran’s ethics police in the capital Tehran for allegedly not following Iran’s strict Islamic dress code.
Protesters have vented their anger over the treatment of women and widespread repression in the Islamic Republic. Nationwide demonstrations grew rapidly to overthrow the clerical establishment that had ruled Iran since the 1979 Islamic Revolution.
Iranian state TV has reported that at least 41 protesters and police have been killed since the demonstrations began on September 17. An Associated Press count of official statements by officials killed at least 14 people, with more than 1,500 protesters arrested.
Kalibaf, the parliamentary speaker, is a former influential commander in the paramilitary Islamic Revolutionary Guard. Along with the President and the head of the judiciary, he is one of the three ranking officers who deal with all important issues of the nation.
The three meet regularly and occasionally meet with Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, who has the final say on all matters of the state.
Kalibaf said he believed that many of the participants in the recent protests initially had no intention of overthrowing the government and claimed that foreign-based opposition groups aimed to break the system. Was doing. Iranian officials have not presented evidence for their allegations of foreign involvement in the protests.
“Creating anarchy in the streets will undermine social integrity, jeopardize the economy while increasing pressure and sanctions by the enemy,” he said, referring to longstanding US sanctions on Iran.
Kalibaf promised to “amend the structure and methods of the Ethics Police” to prevent a recurrence of what happened to Amini. He died in the custody of morality police. His family alleged that he was beaten up, while officials claim that he died of a heart attack.
His remarks came after a closed parliament meeting and a brief rally by lawmakers in support of Khamenei and the police, chanting “death to hypocrites” in a reference to Iranian opposition groups.
Kalibaf’s statement is being seen as an appeal to Iranians to stop their protests while supporting the police and security apparatus.
Meanwhile, the radical Kahan daily said on Sunday that protesters carrying knives attacked the newspaper building on Saturday and smashed windows with rocks. It said they left when members of the guard were stationed at the site.
On Saturday, protests continued on the Tehran university campus and surrounding areas, and witnesses said they saw several girls waving scarves over their heads in a gesture of defiance. Social media allegedly played videos showing similar protests in Mashhad and Shiraz University but the Associated Press could not independently verify their authenticity.
A protester near Tehran University, 19-year-old Fatemeh, who only gave her first name out of fear of repercussions, said she joined the demonstration “to stop this behavior by the police against young people, especially girls.”
Abdolali, a 63-year-old teacher, who also declined to give his last name, said he was shot twice in the leg by police. He said: “I am here to support and support my daughter. I once participated in the Islamic Revolution of 1979 that promised justice and freedom; The time has come to make them come true.”
Protests resumed on Sunday in several cities, including Mashhad, according to social media reports and Tehran’s Sharif Industrial University, according to the semi-official Tasnim news agency. Witnesses said security was tight in Tehran University and its surrounding areas as hundreds of anti-riot police and plainclothes with their cars and motorcycles were stationed at junctions and squares. The AP could not immediately verify the authenticity of the reports.
Also on Sunday, media outlets reported the death of another Revolutionary Guard member in the southeastern city of Zahedan. According to state media, the number of IRG members killed in an attack on a police station by gunmen rose to five, in which 19 people were killed.
It was not clear whether the attack, which Iranian officials said was carried out by separatists, was related to anti-government protests.
Local media said a police officer was also killed in the Kurdish city. marivano, following injuries during clashes with protesters. The protests have attracted supporters of various ethnic groups, including Kurdish opposition movements in Iran’s northwest that operate along the border with neighboring Iraq.
Amini was an Iranian Kurd and was first opposed in the Kurdish regions.