Senior Iranian official warns against protests amid severe unrest

Protests over the death of a young woman in police custody could destabilize the country as unrest across the country enters its third week, the speaker of Iran’s parliament has warned, urging security forces to deal harshly with people he claims endanger public order.

Social media reports on Sunday showed what appeared to be sporadic anti-government protests in Tehran and clashes with security forces in other towns, even as the government moved to block some or all of Iran’s internet connections.

According to the legislature’s website, Mohammad Bagr Kalibaf told lawmakers that previous demonstrations by teachers and retirees over wages were aimed at reforms, unlike the current protests he said were aimed at overthrowing the government. .

“The point of the protests (in the past) was that they were looking for reform, not to overthrow” the system, Mr Kalibav said.

“I ask all who have any (reason) to protest not to let their protests turn into destabilizing and overthrowing” institutions.

Over the past two weeks, thousands of Iranians have taken to the streets to protest the death of Mahsa Amini, a 22-year-old woman who was detained by Iran’s ethics police in the capital Tehran for allegedly not abiding by the country’s strict Sharia law. Dress code.

Protesters have vented their anger over the Islamic Republic’s treatment of women and a wider crackdown.

Nationwide demonstrations quickly escalated into calls for the overthrow of the clerical establishment that has ruled Iran since the 1979 Islamic Revolution.

Iranian state television reported that at least 41 protesters and police have been killed since the demonstrations began on September 17.

At least 14 people were killed and more than 1,500 demonstrators were arrested, according to an Associated Press tally of official statements by authorities.

The Speaker of Parliament, Mr Kalibaf, is a former influential commander of the paramilitary Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps.

Along with the president and the head of the judiciary, he is one of three senior officials dealing with all important issues of the country.

The three meet regularly and sometimes with Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, who has the final say on all state affairs.

Mr Kalibav said he believed many of those who attended the recent protests had no intention of trying to overthrow the government in the first place, and claimed foreign opposition groups were instigating protests aimed at destroying the system.

Iranian authorities have provided no evidence against allegations of foreign involvement in the protests.

“Making chaos in the streets will weaken social integrity, jeopardize the economy, and increase pressure and sanctions on the enemy,” he said, referring to the long-standing, severe U.S. sanctions on Iran.

Mr Qalibaf pledged to “revise the structure and methods of the ethics police” to prevent what happened to Ms Amini from happening again.

The young woman died in the custody of the ethics police. Her family claimed she was beaten, while officials claimed she died of a heart attack.

His remarks came after a closed-door parliamentary session and a brief gathering of lawmakers to show support for Mr Khamenei and the police, chanting “death to a hypocrite”, referring to Iran’s opposition groups.