175 Indictments Issued for Detainees of December Protests

The Tehran prosecutor announced the issuance of 175 indictments for those detained during the December protests, stating that these protests resulted in incidents causing financial and human losses in 41 cities across Iran. According to ISNA news agency, Abbas Jafari Dolatabadi reported on Thursday, March 15, that 175 indictments have been issued for those detained during the December protests. He also mentioned that verdicts have been issued for 21 detainees, with 16 receiving prison sentences and three facing fines. The report noted that three protesters were acquitted. The Tehran prosecutor further stated that the December protests occurred in 90 cities, leading to incidents and financial and human losses in 41 of them. In Iran's judicial system, indictments are issued by the prosecutor's office, and ultimately, the court decides on the cases. Official statistics indicate that approximately 5,000 people were detained during the December protests, including over 400 in Tehran. Additionally, 25 people were reported killed during these protests, and Sina Ghanbari reportedly committed suicide in Evin prison. There have also been reports of the deaths of Vahid Heydari and Shahab Abtahi Zadeh in Arak, Mohsen Adeli in Dezful, Saro Ghahramani and Kianoush Zandi in Sanandaj, but Iranian officials have denied any connection between their deaths and the protests. The nationwide protests began with slogans against Hassan Rouhani in a gathering on December 7 in Mashhad, but from the very first day, some protesters chanted slogans against all officials of the Islamic Republic, and in the following days, some protesters expressed support for the Pahlavi dynasty and called for a change of government. Meanwhile, Hossein Zolfaqari, the security deputy of the Minister of Interior, acknowledged on Thursday, March 8, that these protests transcended all political currents in the country. However, the Tehran prosecutor stated that the protests were economic in nature and did not target the 'essence of the regime,' but rather served as an opportunity for officials to understand that if they do not fulfill their duties, they will face public backlash. While the Supreme Leader and his close associates attribute the protests to economic issues, the President of Iran has stated that the protesters also had political and social demands. The Supreme Leader and several other officials have accused the United States, Israel, and Saudi Arabia of organizing these gatherings. Meanwhile, Hossein Dehghan, the Minister of Defense during Hassan Rouhani's first term and an advisor to the Supreme Leader, claimed on Thursday that 'enemies' intended to create an atmosphere of insecurity and chaos in Iran through planning and propaganda, along with coordination with their elements inside and outside the country. These statements come despite Mahmoud Sadeghi, a member of parliament, tweeting that 'according to intelligence officials, no foreign agent has been involved in the recent unrest.' The Tehran prosecutor also mentioned the issuance of indictments for 20 'main agents and leaders' of the clashes on Pasdaran Street. In addition to the trial of the bus driver who ran over three police officers, indictments have been issued for 20 'main agents and leaders' of the clashes on Pasdaran Street. Reports indicate that over 500 Gonabadi dervishes were detained during the clashes on Pasdaran Street in Tehran, with reports of severe beatings of detained dervishes and injuries including 'broken heads, jaws, and several teeth,' along with poor physical conditions for some of them. Mohammad Raji, a detained Gonabadi dervish, also died in custody. While the Majzooban Noor website, which covers news about Gonabadi dervishes, reported that this dervish died during 'interrogation,' judicial officials denied the claim, stating he was killed during the clashes in the street. Mohammad Thalath, a Gonabadi dervish accused of running over and killing three police officers, stated during his first court session on Sunday, March 10, that he had lost control due to the police officers' attack and having 17 points on his head broken, making him 'extremely nervous.' On Tuesday, February 19, a protest gathering of Gonabadi dervishes around the house of Noor Ali Tabandeh, the leader of this order, turned violent due to the intervention of security forces and plainclothes motorcyclists. Previously, the Human Rights Defenders Center, chaired by Shirin Ebadi, reported on human rights violations in Iran in February, noting that 'the presence and intervention of Basij forces at the scene of incidents is the source of many unfortunate events in street protests.'