‘Surrender within three days or face action’, Iran issues ultimatum to protesters

Tehran (The Uttam Hindu): Protests that began in Iran in late December last year had shaken the country. While the situation has now largely calmed, the Khamenei-led government has launched strict action against protesters. Iran’s top police official on Monday issued an ultimatum to what he described as “rioters,” ordering them to surrender within three days or face severe consequences.

At the same time, the government said it would address the economic problems that had triggered the protests. However, human rights groups allege that thousands of people were killed during the crackdown. What started as demonstrations against inflation and the sharp fall of the Iranian currency soon turned into demands for the removal of the Khamenei regime.

To control the unrest, authorities had shut down internet services and restricted international calls, limiting access to information about the ground situation. Officials have now said that internet services will be restored gradually.

Police chief Ahmad-Reza Radan said that many young people were misled into joining the unrest and would be treated leniently if they surrender. The government has also claimed that the United States and Israel played a role in turning the protests violent.

The United Nations has warned that Iran may use the death penalty as a tool to intimidate protesters. According to human rights groups, thousands of arrests have been made in protest-related cases, and the death toll could be over 3,000, with fears that the actual number may be even higher.