Iran: Khamenei praised the ‘sacrifice’ of the Basij militia against the protesters
Iran’s supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei has praised the Basij militia. Khamenei has said that militia fighters have lost their lives in the recent riots.
Khamenei was referring to the deaths of militiamen trying to control people during demonstrations against the hijab in the country.
The Basij forces, belonging to the Iranian Revolutionary Guard, have been at the forefront of controlling anti-hijab protesters over the past few weeks.
According to the news agency Reuters, Khamenei said in a televised speech, “He (Basij) has made sacrifices to save the people from the rioters. Basij’s presence shows that the Islamic revolution is alive.”
Demonstrations began in several cities in Iran after the death of 22-year-old Iranian-Kurdish woman Mahsa Amin in September due to police brutality for not wearing a hijab.
Protesters are angry against the death of Mahsa Amini in custody. Demonstrations are also being held in many cities demanding Khamenei’s removal from power.
Demonstrators also burned effigies of Khamenei during demonstrations against the legitimacy of the Islamic Republic.
However, the government of Iran says that western countries including America are instigating people here.
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In videos being posted on social media on Saturday, protesters are seen demonstrating and raising slogans at several universities in Tehran. Demonstrations are also taking place in another city, Isfahan. However, Reuters could not verify these videos.
According to posts on the news website Sobahma and social media, 140 eye doctors in Iran have issued a statement saying that people have lost one or both eyes from birdshot and paintball bullets used by security forces against protesters.
