Iran must deal decisively with protests, president

24/9/2022 18:51

        Iran must deal decisively with protests which have swept the country after the death in custody of a woman detained by the Islamic Republic's morality police, President Ebrahim Raisi said on Saturday.
        
        Thirty-five people have been killed in the weeklong demonstrations, according to Iran's state television, with protest spreading to most of the country's 31 provinces.
        
        On Friday, state-organised rallies took place in several Iranian cities to counter the anti-government protests, and the army promised to confront "the enemies" behind the unrest.
        
        State media quoted Raisi on Saturday as saying Iran must "deal decisively with those who oppose the country's security and tranquillity".
        
        Raisi was speaking by telephone to the family of a member of the Basij volunteer force killed while taking part in the crackdown on unrest in the northeastern city of Mashhad.
        
        The president "stressed the necessity to distinguish between protest and disturbing public order and security, and called the events ... a riot," state media reported.