Iran's Attorney General Threatens Protesters with Death Penalty in Escalating Crackdown.
The Iranian government has ramped up its efforts to suppress the ongoing protests, which have seen thousands of people take to the streets across the country. The authorities have cut off internet access and warned demonstrators that they will face severe penalties, including the death penalty, if they continue to protest.
Mohammad Movahedi Azad, Iran's Attorney General, made the threat on Saturday, stating that those who are considered enemies of God (mohareb) would be prosecuted and punished accordingly. The Associated Press reported that this is a death-penalty charge, which carries the possibility of execution.
Experts say that this move is part of the government's standard tactic to silence dissenting voices, as it has been unable to stop protests from popping up across the country. Georgetown University professor Nader Hashemi said, "The regime is in full panic mode over the protests... I'm reminded of the Tiananmen Square massacre in 1989 in China."
Protests in Iran have a long history, with thousands pouring out on the streets during the 2009 Green Movement and the 2018 protests over gas prices. The latest demonstrations were sparked by merchants angered by economic turmoil, including the tumbling value of the rial and rising inflation.
The government has been increasingly vocal in its condemnation of the protesters, with Iranian Foreign Ministry officials releasing statements accusing external powers, including the US and Israel, of inciting unrest.
As tensions escalate, it remains to be seen how long the protests will continue and what the future holds for the Iranian people.
The Iranian government has ramped up its efforts to suppress the ongoing protests, which have seen thousands of people take to the streets across the country. The authorities have cut off internet access and warned demonstrators that they will face severe penalties, including the death penalty, if they continue to protest.
Mohammad Movahedi Azad, Iran's Attorney General, made the threat on Saturday, stating that those who are considered enemies of God (mohareb) would be prosecuted and punished accordingly. The Associated Press reported that this is a death-penalty charge, which carries the possibility of execution.
Experts say that this move is part of the government's standard tactic to silence dissenting voices, as it has been unable to stop protests from popping up across the country. Georgetown University professor Nader Hashemi said, "The regime is in full panic mode over the protests... I'm reminded of the Tiananmen Square massacre in 1989 in China."
Protests in Iran have a long history, with thousands pouring out on the streets during the 2009 Green Movement and the 2018 protests over gas prices. The latest demonstrations were sparked by merchants angered by economic turmoil, including the tumbling value of the rial and rising inflation.
The government has been increasingly vocal in its condemnation of the protesters, with Iranian Foreign Ministry officials releasing statements accusing external powers, including the US and Israel, of inciting unrest.
As tensions escalate, it remains to be seen how long the protests will continue and what the future holds for the Iranian people.
Iran's government is basically saying death penalty to anyone who's protesting lol they think that'll stop ppl from speaking out against them? not gonna work 
my friend's cousin has a family member in Iran and he said it's getting super scary there right now everyone's just trying to survive and express themselves without being silenced 
the protests are about more than just economic stuff, it's about freedom and rights too 
this is gonna end badly, mark my words. they're just trying to crush the spirits of the protesters, like some kinda twisted game of cat and mouse. and that death penalty threat from the Attorney General? 
it's a sick joke. i mean, what's next? executing people for having different opinions? or being online at the wrong time? 
this is a really scary situation in iran. i think the government's move is a classic case of trying to silence dissenting voices by threatening severe penalties. the death penalty charge is insane 
and the fact that they're trying to blame external powers for inciting unrest just shows how desperate they are.
the protests in 2009 and 2018 were already a sign of growing unrest, but this latest wave seems more intense.
I'm getting really worried about these protesters in Iran... they're just trying to speak up about their economic struggles and yet the government is threatening them with DEATH PENALTY 
It feels like such a simple solution, but maybe I'm just not seeing the bigger picture... 
I feel for the people of Iran who are fighting for their rights. It's so disheartening when governments try to silence us.
i don't think it's gonna work, people are more connected now & they won't be silenced that easily 
and yeah, the history with protests in Iran is sketchy but this time it's different, everyone's watching 
what's going to happen next?
. it's like, can't we all just have a chill conversation about the economy without some guy getting all huffy and threatening people's lives? 
... i feel bad for all the ppl taking a stand, gotta be scarily tough to do that with that kind of oppression weighing you down 
The government's response is super heavy-handed, and it's not going to solve anything in the long run. We need to remember that protests are a fundamental human right, and anyone has the right to express their opinions without fear of persecution 
. The Iranian people deserve better, and we should be sending them our support from afar 
.
... they already have the internet shut down, which is, like, totally a way to silence people and control what info gets out 
... I mean, I get why the government would be freaked out about all these protests, but come on! can't they find a better way to deal with the situation than threatening people's lives? 
.
... like, I guess they're trying to silence those who are speaking out, but honestly, have you seen their internet speed? 
... like, "Hey, don't tweet about us"! But seriously, this whole thing is kinda crazy 
. Guess they wanna send a message to all those protesters, but it's just gonna fuel the fire 