Iran charges more than 750 people for involvement in ‘riots’

Published November 13, 2022
In this file photo, demonstrators take to the streets of Tehran in October to vent their anger over the death of Mahsa Amini. — AFP/File
In this file photo, demonstrators take to the streets of Tehran in October to vent their anger over the death of Mahsa Amini. — AFP/File

Iran’s judiciary has charged more than 750 people in three provinces for participating in “recent riots” amid nationwide protests since the death of Mahsa Amini, local media reported.

More than 2,000 people had already been charged — nearly half of them in the capital Tehran — since the demonstrations began in mid-September, according to judiciary figures.

Dozens of people — mainly demonstrators but also security personnel — have been killed during the protests, which the authorities have branded as “riots”.

The judicial chief for the southern province of Hormozgan, Mojtaba Ghahremani, said that 164 people had been charged “after the recent riots”, the judiciary’s Mizan Online news website reported Sunday.

They face accusations including “incitement to killing”, “harming security forces”, “propaganda against the regime” and “damaging public property”, the website said.

It further added that their trials would begin “from Thursday in the presence of their lawyers”.

Another 276 people were charged in the central province of Markazi, its judiciary chief Abdol-Mehdi Mousavi was quoted as saying by state news agency IRNA.

However, 100 young people were released after signing pledges not to participate in any future “riots”, IRNA said.

Judicial chief Asadollah Jafari said that 316 cases had been filed in connection with the recent strife in central Isfahan province.

“Twelve have already gone to trial,” the Tasnim news agency reported him as saying late on Saturday.

Amini’s death on September 16 came days after her arrest by the morality police for an alleged breach of the country’s strict dress rules for women.

Authorities have denied claims by rights groups abroad that some 15,000 people have been detained in the ensuing unrest.

Opinion

Editorial

Economic plan
Updated 02 Jan, 2025

Economic plan

Absence of policy reforms allows the bureaucracy a lot of space to wriggle out of responsibility.
On life support
02 Jan, 2025

On life support

PAKISTAN stands at a precarious crossroads as we embark on a new year. Pildat’s Quality of Democracy report has...
Harsh sentence
02 Jan, 2025

Harsh sentence

USING lawfare to swiftly get rid of political opponents makes a mockery of the legal system, especially when ...
Looking ahead
Updated 01 Jan, 2025

Looking ahead

The dawn of 2025 brings with it hope of a more constructive path to much-needed stability.
On the front lines
Updated 01 Jan, 2025

On the front lines

THE human cost of terrorism in 2024 was staggering. The ISPR reports 383 officers and soldiers embraced martyrdom...
Avoiding reform
01 Jan, 2025

Avoiding reform

PAKISTAN’S economic growth significantly slowed down to a modest 0.92pc during the first quarter of the present...