TEHRAN: Iran’s attorney-general has warned that protesters involved in ongoing anti-government demonstrations could face the death penalty, as authorities adopt a hardline stance against unrest spreading beyond the capital.
According to Sky News, Tehran prosecutor Ali Salehi said acts of vandalism against public property and armed violence committed during the protests would be treated as moharebeh, or waging war against God, an offence punishable by execution under Iranian law.
“We will not show leniency towards armed terrorists. Their sentence is moharebeh,” he was quoted as saying.
The warning comes as demonstrations, initially triggered by economic hardship, have spread to several cities, intensifying pressure on Iran’s leadership.
Sky News also reported that several police officers were shot dead by what authorities described as “armed protesters”, as confrontations between demonstrators and security forces escalated.
Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei has also ordered a firm crackdown, accusing protesters of acting on behalf of foreign powers.
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In a brief address, Khamenei said “vandals and rioters” were “destroying their own streets to please the president of another country”, adding that Tehran would not tolerate individuals acting as “mercenaries for foreigners”.
United States President Donald Trump has warned that Washington would “get involved” if the Iranian government “starts killing people”.
Meanwhile, Iranian authorities imposed a nationwide internet blackout on Friday, effectively cutting the country off from the outside world.
State media blamed the unrest on what it described as “terrorist agents” backed by the United States and Israel.
According to the US-based Human Rights Activists News Agency, at least 62 people have been killed in violence linked to the demonstrations, while more than 2,300 others have been detained.
© New Straits Times Press (M) Bhd
