Iran’s police chief on Wednesday warned those taking part in any “illegal” rallies to expect harsh treatment, three days after at least eight people were killed in protests.Esmail Ahmadi-Moqaddam, commander of the Law Enforcement Force, told reporters that the police had not been tough with protests before and protesters took advantage of such an attitude.
“We advise that this specific current end its actions otherwise those disrupting order will be dealt with severely and in accordance with the law,” he said, according to the Fars news agency.
Security forces used batons and teargas to disperse the protesters on Sunday, who used the Shiite holy day of Ashura to stage fresh anti-government demonstrations.
The police chief said that the protesters were acting in violation of the law and against the system and Islam, adding that their numbers were “very small and insignificant”.
Ahmadi-Moqaddam said that those who attacked the security forces, destroyed public property or chanted “racy” slogans were considered to be “mohareb [one who wages war against God]”, reports the BBC Persian service.
He said that the Judiciary will deal with them in a “decisive” manner.
Under Iran’s Islamic sharia law, the punishment for people convicted as “mohareb” is execution.
The police chief said that his forces had arrested 500 “rioters” on Sunday and after investigating their cases, 300 were still being held, reports the official IRNA news agency.
He added that 120 law enforcement forces were wounded during the protests, of whom 60 remained in hospital.
On Wednesday, huge pro-government rallies were held in Tehran, to condemn the demonstrations on Sunday.
Sources: Fars news agency, BBC Persian service, IRNA
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