- Iran’s highest judicial authority, Gholamhossein Mohseni Eje’i, has demanded that legal proceedings against detained anti-government protesters be expedited and prioritized.
- During a recent visit to a Tehran detention facility, the Judiciary Chief personally reviewed the files of those arrested, emphasizing swift sentencing for individuals involved in alleged ‘terrorist acts’ or attacks on security forces.
- This aggressive stance includes plans for publicized, open trials for leading figures involved in the recent unrest, allowing media access to the proceedings.
Gholamhossein Mohseni Eje’i, the head of the Islamic Republic’s Judiciary, has issued a forceful directive calling for the immediate prioritization of legal cases against individuals arrested during the recent widespread anti-government protests. His remarks, published following a surprise visit to a Tehran detention center, signal the regime’s intent to conclude the judicial process swiftly and severely.
During his visit, Eje’i reportedly took the unusual step of personally reviewing the cases of the recently detained individuals, whom state media frequently labels “rioters” or “seditionists.” He specifically stressed that protesters who allegedly assaulted security personnel, attacked public and governmental infrastructure, or committed “terrorist actions” must be fast-tracked through the courts for sentencing. Photos and official statements regarding this high-profile visit were disseminated earlier today via Fars News Agency, a media outlet linked to the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC).
In a significant procedural move, Eje’i also announced that authorities are planning to hold open trials for certain key figures implicated in the ongoing unrest. These proceedings are expected to be accessible to the media, suggesting a deliberate governmental strategy to showcase the prosecution and subsequent punishment of protest leaders as a deterrent to further dissent.
This aggressive judicial pivot occurs as international condemnation of the crackdown intensifies. While the Iranian government maintains that its security forces are only countering violent rioters, human rights organizations have provided harrowing data. A recent estimate by one human rights watchdog claims that over 2,400 protesters have reportedly been killed since the unrest began. Furthermore, media organizations have previously verified video evidence showing Iranian security forces firing directly into crowds of demonstrators during the crackdown.