Many of Rioters Detained in Iran Unrest Acquitted after Expressing Regret: Official
TEHRAN (Tasnim) – Head of the Tehran Revolutionary Court Hojatoleslam Musa Ghazanfarabadi said many of the rioters arrested during recent unrest in some cities of Iran have been acquitted after expressing regret.
Speaking to Tasnim, Ghazanfarabadi pointed to the latest status of judicial cases filed against those who were arrested during the riots in December and said most of the cases have been dealt with.
He said most of the defendants in the cases had committed crimes under the influence of emotions.
“Hence, many of the defendants have been acquitted after expressing regret while some of them have been convicted,” the official added.
During late December and early January, peaceful protests over rising prices and economic problems broke out in some Iranian cities, but the unauthorized gatherings turned violent after a number of opportunists, some of them armed, vandalized public property and launched attacks on police stations and government buildings.
Iranian security officials say they have hard evidence that the protests were directed from abroad.
They say many rioters arrested in the unrest have been trained by the MKO or had links with Takfiri terrorist groups.
Following the unrest, people held several demonstrations across the country to condemn the violent riots and acts of vandalism, and voice support for the Islamic Republic’s Establishment.
Iranian officials maintain that people have the right to stage protests to express their opinions as long as rallies comply with the legal conditions.
