Iran hints at deeper crackdown amid protests over woman's death
Iran’s army hints it is prepared to deepen its crackdown on protests triggered by the death in of a woman who had been detained by the morality police.
TEHRAN, Iran — Iran’s army on Friday hinted that it was prepared to deepen its crackdown on protests triggered by the death of a young woman who had been detained by the morality police.
For almost a week, there have been running battles between demonstrators and security forces in almost 90 cities and towns. At least 26 people have died during the demonstrations, according to Iranian state television.
The military said it would “confront the enemies’ various plots in order to ensure security and peace for the people who are being unjustly assaulted,” government-aligned Tasnim News Agency reported, according to Reuters.
Protesters can be heard chanting various slogans in videos posted on social media. In one video uploaded on Twitter, a group of demonstrators in the city of Pakdasht shout, "Death to the dictator." Another video shows demonstrators chanting, "Women, life, freedom," and, "I will kill, I will, whoever killed my sister."
An Iranian newspaper with a photo of 22-year-old Mahsa Amini, who died after morality police arrested her for allegedly violating the government's strict dress code.Fatemeh Bahrami / Anadolu Agency via Getty ImagesAnger over the death of Mahsa Amini, 22, presents the government with its worst crisis in decades, according to Roham Alvandi, an associate professor of international history at the London School of Economics and Political Science.
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