The much hated Iraqi born head of the Islamic Republic judiciary, Ayatollah Hashemi Shahroodi was booed and jeered by protesters in Iran when he made an official visit to the international book exhibition held in Tehran on Sunday. One of the eyewitnesses present at the exhibition told the BBC Persian Service reporter; when Ayatollah Shahroodi was about to exit Hall No.2 in the exhibition, a group of people present started chanting 'Hashemi Resign, Hashemi Resign' and started pushing towards the Ayatollah's entourage. One journalist from the Islamic Republic Labour News Agency (Kar) was injured during the scuffles. Mohammad Sahfi, the press deputy for the Ministry of Islamic Guidance said the matter will be further investigated. Ayatollah Shahroodi had to quickly leave the exhibition when scuffles broke out, at which point the people started spontaneously singing the patriotic 'Ey Iran' national anthem. The 'Ey Iran, Land of Glorious Frontiers', much frowned upon by the clerics as too nationalistic and anti-Islamic, has become the focal point of many protests against the Islamic clerical rulers. Ayatollah Hashemi Shahroodi, the Iraqi born head of the Islamic Republic's notorious judiciary, is responsible for the imprisonment of many of Iran's dissident writers and journalists.
Justice Minister of the Islamic Republic Booed at Tehran Book Fair
Ayatollah Hashemi Shahroodi, the head of the Islamic Republic judiciary, faced public outrage at the Tehran Book Fair, where protesters chanted for his resignation. The incident highlights growing discontent with the regime's treatment of dissidents and has sparked further discussions about nationalism in Iran.
👥 Key Players
📰 What Happened
Ayatollah Hashemi Shahroodi was booed and called to resign by protesters during his visit to the Tehran Book Fair. The incident escalated into scuffles, highlighting public anger towards the judiciary's treatment of dissidents.
- Protesters chanted 'Hashemi Resign' as Shahroodi attempted to exit the venue.
- The event culminated in scuffles, injuring a journalist and leading to Shahroodi's hasty departure.
💡 Why It Matters
📚 Background
Iran has a history of suppressing dissent, particularly against writers and journalists, which has led to widespread protests against the regime's policies.
🏷️ Entities Mentioned
Translated from the original and edited for English readers. View original source →
Translation confidence: 85%