The head of Iran's judiciary has asked judges around the country to avoid showing sympathy to arrested protesters and commit the "ringleaders" to long terms in prison.
"Showing unnecessary sympathy or kindness and handing short prison sentences to the main characters is an injustice to the public and the future," Gholamhossein Mohseni Ejei told judges.
He echoed the words of Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, who blamed “foreign enemies" for the current nationwide protests, which he called "scattered riots."
Saying there could be mercy to those caught up almost by accident in the protests, but not those who organised or led them, he said: "You should also know that there are different kinds of people among them."
Mohseni Ejei announced that from now, arrested protesters would be freed on bail until their court hearing. At that point, if they showed remorse, they would be pardoned. Beyond that, if they showed good behaviour while in detention, they would receive light prison sentences.
Videos from Tehran and elsewhere shared on social media Thursday show university and high school students demonstrating and chanting, with some women and girls marching through the streets without headscarves.
The new round of protests was sparked by the death in custody of a young woman last month. This week the death toll in the protests passed 200, including dozens of minors.
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All organized crime. Similar yet vastly different than what's occurring in the U.S. (obviously). With that said, pulling out of protests pulls yourself out of the fire. There is knowledge in Iran on how to fight these issues that don't involve organized crime. They are creating drama at a higher level playin g out at a lower level for distraction in order to maintain power. Typical tactics. Walking weapons. ... read more