Iran’s chief justice urges swift execution of detained protesters

[Financial News]


The chief justice of the Islamic Republic of Iran has called for the swift execution of those detained for taking part in nationwide protests.
His remarks are being interpreted as a demand to instill fear among citizens through rapid executions in order to deter them from joining demonstrations.
The comments came as U.S. President Donald Trump warned that if the authorities begin executing protesters, the United States would take “very strong action” against the Islamic Republic of Iran.
According to the Financial Times (FT), Iran’s chief justice Gholam-Hossein Mohseni-Ejei said in a video posted by Tasnim News Agency, which is closely affiliated with the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), “If we are going to do something, we must do it quickly. It has to be done at the right time.”
He added, “If this is delayed, we might end up doing in two months what we could have done today, but in that case the impact will not be the same.”
Referring to protesters as “terrorists,” in line with the Iranian regime’s narrative, he said, “Those who beheaded people in the streets or burned people alive must be tried and executed as quickly as possible.”
Earlier, Trump had warned that the United States might intervene if the Iranian regime executes detained protesters. Demonstrations in the Islamic Republic of Iran began in late December last year as protests over economic hardship and have since evolved into anti-regime rallies.
Trump said, “If they hang people, you are going to see something,” adding, “If they do such things, we will take very strong action.”
He also urged the Iranian leadership to “show humanity” in dealing with the protesters. According to human rights groups outside the Islamic Republic of Iran, thousands of people have been killed in the unrest. One Western government official put the death toll at between 4,000 and 5,000.
Two Western officials, citing intelligence reports and diplomatic channels, said it appears that Iranian security forces have suppressed the protests and regained control in the Islamic Republic of Iran. They added that the number of deaths is estimated to be in the thousands.
The Iranian authorities are responding to the protests with a hard line.
They have repeatedly warned that anyone deemed to be a rioter or a terrorist could face swift punishment.
The authorities have also characterized protests up to the 8th as “peaceful” demonstrations expressing discontent over the regime’s failure to stabilize the economy. However, as Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi argues, they claim that protests during the six days from the 9th to the 14th were linked to “terrorist elements” and have taken a much tougher stance.
According to Mehr News Agency, Justice Minister Amin Hossein Rahimi declared that after the 8th, “this is not a protest but a full-scale civil war,” adding that anyone arrested thereafter is “a definite criminal.” Rahimi stressed that there would be “no leniency whatsoever” for “terrorists” and killers.

dympna@fnnews.com Song Kyung-jae Reporter