Iran’s Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei delivers a speech marking the 40th anniversary of the hostage crisis at the US Embassy in Tehran on November 3, 2019
Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei, the religious leader of the Islamic Republic of Iran, has publicly responded to the protest movement that has rocked his country since Mahsa Amini’s death.
This is his first public reaction since the protests began in Iran. The Supreme Leader of the Islamic Republic, Ali Khamenei, on Monday accused the United States, Israel and its “agents” of fomenting the anti-government protest movement sparked by the Sept. 16 death of Mahsa Amini in Tehran.
“I am saying clearly that this unrest and insecurity is the work of America, the usurping Zionist regime (Israel, ed.) and their paid agents, with the help of certain traitorous Iranians abroad,” he claimed.
“The death of the young girl broke our hearts, but what is not normal is that some people, without any evidence or investigation, are making the streets dangerous, burning the Koran, removing the hijab from veiled women, setting fire to mosques and cars, ” he said.
“The police have an obligation to stand up to the criminals”
At a graduation ceremony for graduates of the military academy in Tehran, he said: “The police have a duty to stand up to criminals and ensure the security of society. (…) Therefore, weakening the police means strengthening the criminals, and whoever attacks the police makes the people defenseless against criminals, thugs, thieves”.
He called on the judicial authorities to try “the rioters in proportion to their degree of involvement in the demolitions and security breaches”.
Referring to the position of certain sports and artistic personalities in favor of the demonstrators, he believes that “it is for the judiciary to decide whether it is a criminal act” but in his eyes their statements are “without meaning”. .
Many Iranian athletes, actors and filmmakers have supported the protest movement and asked the authorities to listen to people’s demands.
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Two-time Oscar winner Asghar Farhadi called on people around the world to “show solidarity” with the protesters. At a soccer friendly against Senegal in Vienna, the entire Iranian team stayed in black during the anthems instead of showing the national jersey.
“sorry to cause trouble”
Ayatollah Khamenei also harshly attacked the press around the world.
“There is a lot of unrest around the world and in Europe, especially in France, in Paris. But the mass media linked to American capitalism and their mercenaries, as well as some governments in the region, particularly the Saudis, have supported the rioters in these countries?” he asked.
The guide called “American regret over the death of a girl a lie because, contrary to appearances, they like to find that excuse to cause trouble”.
Original article published on BFMTV.com
VIDEO – Ayatollah Ali Khamenei accuses the US and Israel of being behind the protest movement in Iran