InsiderBLM Asia
In his first public remarks on the unrest, Iran’s supreme leader blamed the US and Israel for the anti-government protests sweeping the nation.
Ayatollah Ali Khamenei claimed that Qurans had been burned and claimed that “riots” had been “engineered” by Iran’s fiercest foes and allies.
Additionally, he urged security forces to be prepared to handle any future unrest.
The death of a woman while she was in custody ignited the protests, which were the biggest challenge to his rule in ten years.
On September 13 in Tehran, Mahsa Amini, 22, was arrested by morality police for allegedly violating the strict law requiring women to cover their hair with a hijab, or headscarf. A few hours later, she fell into a coma. 3 days later, she passed away.
Her family claims that police beat her in the head with a baton and struck her in the head with a car. According to the police, she experienced “sudden heart failure” and there is no evidence of any abuse.
Women have taken the lead in the demonstrations that have been taking place since Ms. Amini’s funeral. Chants of “Woman, life, freedom” and “Death to the dictator”—a reference to Ayatollah Khamenei—have been heard while they wave their headscarves in the air or set them ablaze.
The supreme leader said Ms. Amini’s passing “broke our hearts” while speaking to police and armed forces cadets on Monday during their graduation ceremony.
Without mentioning any specific incidents, he continued, “But what is not normal is that some people have made the streets dangerous, burned the Quran, removed hijabs from veiled women, and set fire to mosques and cars.
The supreme leader of the country, known as the ayatollah, claimed that foreign governments had planned “rioting” because they could not stand the idea of Iran “attaining strength in all spheres.”
I state unequivocally that America, the occupying, false Zionist regime [Israel], as well as their paid agents, helped by some traitorous Iranians abroad, engineered the riots and the unrest.
Additionally, he expressed his complete support for the security forces, claiming that they had endured “injustice” during the unrest.
A Norwegian organization called Iran Human Rights reported on Sunday that security forces had so far killed at least 133 people. They include the 41 protesters who, according to ethnic Baluch activists, were killed during Friday’s clashes in Zahedan.
More than 40 people, including security personnel, have reportedly been killed, according to state media.
After professors and a government minister intervened, the siege was lifted later that evening.
University students declared on Monday that they would not return to their classes until all of their friends had been released from detention. In the interim, the university announced that it had switched to online learning, citing “the need to protect students.”
There have reportedly been protests at numerous other universities across the nation.
