Iran’s Judiciary Hints at Swift Action Against Protestors
DUBAI, United Arab Emirates – Iran’s top judicial official suggested Wednesday that trials and executions for those arrested during recent nationwide protests could be expedited. This announcement follows warnings from former U.S. President Donald Trump regarding the Islamic Republic’s actions.
Judiciary chief Gholamhossein Mohseni-Ejei’s remarks come amid concerns from activists that executions of detainees could happen soon. Reports from the U.S.-based Human Rights Activists News Agency indicate that the crackdown on demonstrations has resulted in at least 2,571 deaths.
Trump had previously cautioned that the United States might consider military intervention in response to the killing of peaceful protestors.
Meanwhile, Iran prepared for the mass funeral of 100 security force members who died during the demonstrations, adding to the sense of unease among the public. While anti-riot police and Basij forces seem to have returned to their barracks, plainclothes security personnel remain present in some areas.
One Tehran resident, Ahmadreza Tavakoli, described witnessing a demonstration where authorities used firearms. “People were out to express themselves and protest, but quickly it turned into a war zone,” he said. “The people do not have guns. Only the security forces have guns.”
Mohseni-Ejei emphasized the need for swift action in a video shared by Iranian state television. “If we want to do a job, we should do it now… If we want to do something, we have to do that fast,” he stated.
These comments appear to be a direct response to Trump’s warning about executions. “We will take very strong action,” Trump said in an interview. “It’s not going to work out good.”
Some activists reported that Starlink was offering free internet service in Iran, potentially circumventing the government’s internet shutdown implemented on January 8. While international calls from within Iran have been restored, incoming calls from abroad remain blocked.
The Human Rights Activists News Agency reports that of the total deaths, 2,403 were protestors and 147 were government-affiliated. They also stated that over 18,100 people have been detained. Independent verification of these figures remains difficult due to ongoing communication disruptions within Iran.
