Those Arrested in Riots Should Not Be Treated Alike: Iran Judiciary Chief
TEHRAN (Tasnim) – Iranian Judiciary Chief Ayatollah Sadeq Amoli Larijani said not all the individuals arrested during recent protests and riots in the country acted as enemy stooges, adding that the detainees should not be dealt with all in a similar way.
Speaking at a meeting with high-ranking officials of the Judiciary in Tehran on Monday, Amoli Larijani pointed to the recent civil protests in the country and said some of the rallies turned violent due to the enemies’ plots and provocative moves.
In the meantime, some rioters attacked the public property in a move that cannot be justified by any regulation or criterion, he added.
The Judiciary chief further called on the judges dealing with cases of those arrested during the riots not to treat all of the detainees in the same way.
There are some individuals among them that have been deceived, the cleric said, adding that they have no criminal records and did not play a major role in the incidents.
In late December, peaceful protests over economic problems broke out in a number of Iranian cities, but the gatherings turned violent when groups of participants, some of them armed, vandalized public property and launched attacks on police stations and government buildings.
Security forces say many rioters arrested in the recent unrest have been trained by the MKO terrorists or had links with the Takfiri terrorist groups.
Following the unrest, people held several demonstrations across the country to condemn the violent riots and acts of vandalism, and voice support for the Islamic Republic’s Establishment.
Iranian officials maintain that people have the right to stage protests to express their opinions as long as rallies comply with the legal conditions.