500 detained on Ashura day: Iran's Judiciary official

QOM, Jan. 1 (MNA) – Deputy Judiciary chief Ebrahim Raisi announced late on Thursday that more than 500 people were arrested by police in the riots in Tehran on Sunday which fell on the Ashura day.


Talking to reporters in Qom, he said judicial bodies have started an immediate investigation of crimes committed by these detained persons.


He also said these people will not be freed on bail.


He also said the concerned bodies including police forces must do their “legal duties and deal strongly with inciters so that nobody dares to cause insecurity” in the society.


“Police’s action must be preemptive so that no skirmishes take place.”


The top Judiciary official added if the “enemies” do not heed the warnings by the Supreme Leader and insist on their animosity with the system the “security and judicial bodies will deal with them firmly.”


The cleric also said the rallies across the country on Wednesday gave a “lesson” to the rioters.


Pointing to slogans chanted by rioters on Sunday, he said, “With their slogans they proved that they are the enemies of religion and the Islamic Revolution.”


They showed disrespect for Islamic and revolutionary values by “their anti-religion mottos”, he noted.


“We are determined to deal with rioters,” he said, adding the law has set the guidelines how to treat anybody who creates “fear” in the society or “damages public property”.


Elsewhere in his talks, he said the enemies should know that they cannot lead skirmishes in Iran through suspicious killings which are primarily done with the aim of provoking public opinion in the world.


He also called on political groups to set a differentiation between themselves and the enemies.