September 25, 2022, 8:50 AM
September 25, 2022, 8:50 AM
Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi asked the police act “firmly” before the demonstrations that shake the country after the death of a young woman detained by the morality police, and in which more than 40 people have already died.
On Saturday they were celebrated in several countries, including the United States, France, Iraq and Chile, demonstrations in support of the movement that broke out after the death of Mahsa Amini, a 22-year-old girl arrested by the morality police for allegedly wearing the veil in an “inappropriate” way.
These are the largest protests in the country since November 2019 against the increase in the price of gasoline and which were severely repressed (230 dead according to an official balance, more than 300 according to Amnesty International).
The authorities deny any involvement in the young woman’s death, but since September 16, the day of her death, angry Iranians have taken to the streets every night to demonstrate.
According to an official balance, 41 people have died in the protests, including protesters and police. But according to the Oslo-based NGO Iran Human Rights (IHR), at least 54 people have died in the crackdown on the protests.
The ultra-conservative president Ebrahim Raisi, who called the demonstrations “riots”, called on Saturday “the competent authorities to act firmly against those who threaten the security and peace of the country and the people.”
And he called to “distinguish between the demonstrations and the disturbance of public order and security.”
pro-government demonstration
The Iranian Foreign Ministry pointed to an alleged role of the United States, Iran’s sworn enemy, in the protests and warned that “efforts to violate Iran’s sovereignty will not go unanswered.”
Interior Minister Ahmad Vahidi, quoted by the official IRNA agency, said that hoped that “justice would quickly prosecute the main perpetrators and riot leaders,” after police announced the arrest of more than 700 people.
According to the US-based Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ), 17 journalists have been arrested since the beginning of the protests.
The authorities called for this Sunday a new demonstration in favor of the government.
On Saturday night there were demonstrations in various cities across the country, including the capital Tehran, where a video that went viral showed a woman walking in the street bareheaded and waving her handkerchief, ignoring the strict dress codes.
In Iran, women must cover their hair and body below the knees and must not wear tight pants or pants with holes, among other things.
Iran’s main reform party on Saturday called on the state to lift the obligation for women to wear veils in public and release detainees. In the protests several women burned their veils.
“Brave Women”
Amnesty International accuses the security forces of “deliberately firing live ammunition at protesters”and calls for “urgent international action to end the repression.”
Internet was still down on Saturday, and WhatsApp and Instagram were still blocked. NetBlocks, a London-based site that monitors Internet blockades around the world, also reported that Skype was blocked.
Two-time Oscar-winning Iranian film director Asghar Farhadi urged citizens around the world to “stand in solidarity” with the protesters and praised the “progressive and courageous women who are leading the protests for their rights.”
