The Iranian regime wants to publicly try about 1,000 people who allegedly took part in the uprising in the country. The people in question are to stand trial for "subversive actions" before a revolutionary court starting this week.
Iran's dictatorial mullah regime wants to put some 1,000 people on public trial in Tehran over the popular uprising against the ruling clergy. The state news agency Irna reported that the suspects had taken part in "subversive actions" and would therefore have to stand trial. These included attacks on security forces, arson and other charges. Accordingly, the trials will take place in a revolutionary court and begin this week.
"Those who intend to confront and undermine the regime depend on foreigners and will be punished according to legal standards," said Iranian judiciary chief Gholam-Hossein Mohseni-Ejei. He was implying that demonstrators would be charged with collaborating with foreign governments.
Representatives of the regime repeatedly claimed that "foreign enemies" had fomented the unrest in the country and spoke of a "conspiracy" by the US, Britain, Saudi Arabia and Israel. Ejei said the prosecution wanted to distinguish between "angry Iranians" who had merely vented their displeasure and those who wanted to overthrow the government.
Hundreds dead and thousands arrested
The revolt in Iran began more than six weeks ago and was ignited by the violent death of 22-year-old Kurdish woman Jina Mahsa Amini in the custody of the Iranian morality police. Since then, tens of thousands of people, led by women and youth, have been demonstrating across the country for the dismantling of the regime and a change of system. The central slogan of the new freedom movement, which unites all ethnic groups, genders, classes and social strata in Iran, is: "Jin, Jiyan, Azadî" [Woman, Life, Freedom]. Security forces repeatedly use live ammunition and tear gas against those involved in the uprising. According to human rights groups, hundreds of people have died so far and about 14,000 have been arrested.
Hengaw: Protests and arrests in Kurdistan
On Saturday, the notorious Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) threatened to crack down even harder on demonstrators. "Today is the last day of unrest. Don't come to the streets anymore," IRGC commander Hussein Salami said, demanding an end to the revolt. But the opponents of the regime were not intimidated. Especially at universities and schools, there were large protests again. Mass protests in public places and parks were reported in the Kurdish cities of Mahabad, Seqiz (Saqqez), Bokan, Serdeşt, Piranshahr, Diwandere, Kirmaşan (Kermanshah), and in Sine (Sanandaj) students were attacked by IRGC troops with live ammunition. The Kurdish human rights organisation Hengaw reported that there were numerous arrests. Several of those concerned were literally abducted, and in many cases their whereabouts are unclear. In addition, Iranian media reported that the police were using drones to control the system-critical protests. According to the Tasnim news agency, which is considered the mouthpiece of the IRGC, the drones are supposed to help the special forces, in particular, to observe events more effectively.
Baerbock: Put Revolutionary Guard on EU terror list
Meanwhile, German Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock has raised the possibility of classifying the IRGC as a terrorist organisation because of the violent crackdown by Iranian regime forces on the protest movement. Last week, she made it clear that “we will initiate another package of sanctions, that we will examine how we can also list the Revolutionary Guard as a terrorist organisation", said the Green politician in an interview broadcast on Sunday by the ARD programme "Report from Berlin".
In 2019, under then-President Donald Trump, the USA classified the IRGC as a terrorist organisation. However, the organisation is not on a corresponding list of the European Union. Such a classification would allow EU states to freeze the Revolutionary Guard's assets in the EU. According to Baerbock, the EU is currently preparing further punitive measures against Iran.
The Revolutionary Guard is the elite unit of Iran's armed forces and far more important than the classical army. It reports directly to the "Supreme Leader", Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, who has the final say in all strategic matters. The unit also has great political and economic influence in Iran.
