Iran judiciary chief orders harsh punishment for 'main elements of riots' amidst protests

Protests continue in Iran following the death of a woman in the custody of the Morality Police. Iran’s judiciary chief has ordered harsh sentences to be imposed on those deemed the “main elements of the riots.”

The Iranian semi-official Students News Agency reported Thursday that judiciary chief Gholam-Hossein Mohseni-Ejei ordered judges to issue harsh sentences to those deemed the “main elements of the riots” amidst the ongoing anti-government demonstrations. This follows Mohseni-Ejei’s previous order to fast-track cases related to the protests Tehran has labeled as “riots.”

“I have instructed our judges to avoid showing unnecessary sympathy to main elements of these riots and issue tough sentences for them while separating the less guilty people,” said Mohseni-Ejei, according to the report.

The widespread protests erupted in mid-September when 22-year-old Mahsa Amini died in the custody of the Morality Police for allegedly breaching the supposed dress code for women.

Authorities issued a report, and while the medical examiner did not mention Amini’s death, the official said Amini had a brain tumor operated on when she was eight years old, and there were no blows to her head or to her organs.

However, the medical examiner’s claims are refuted by Amini’s family, who have also questioned the validity of the medical examiner’s report. Amini’s death triggered the largest protest since 2019. Dozens were indicted for taking part in the riots, with Tehran also placing restrictions on internet access.

Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi also accused the United States of using the riots to destabilize Iran.

Tehran’s prosecutor general Ali Salehi said Wednesday that 60 indictments were issued for demonstrators in the capital, according to the state media outlet IRNA. An additional 65 indictments were issued in the southern province of Hormozgan, while 13 arrest warrants were enforced, according to local judiciary chief Mojtaba Ghahrehmani.

The officials said those who were indicted were responsible for “creating illegal gatherings, arson, and violation of government and private places.”

However, authorities have also said that most of those who were detained for participating in the protests were released upon signing a declaration that they would not participate in the protests again.