Iran's judiciary says more than 1,000 indictments in Tehran made over 'riots'

DUBAI:

More than 1,000 indictments related to recent "riots" have been issued in Tehran province, judiciary spokesperson Masoud Setayeshi said on Tuesday.

Since the death of Mahsa Amini in the custody of Iran's morality police on Sept. 16, Iran has faced nationwide protests which are one of the biggest challenges to its clerical rulers since the 1979 revolution.

Anti-government protests that began on Sept. 17 at the funeral of 22-year-old Mahsa Amini in her Kurdish town of Saqez, have turned into the biggest challenge to Iran's clerical leaders in years, with protesters calling for the downfall of Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei.

"At least 185 people, including at least 19 children, have been killed in the nationwide protests across Iran. The highest number of killings occurred in Sistan and Baluchistan province with half the recorded number," the Norway-based Iran Human Rights said on Saturday.

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Authorities have described the protests as a plot by Iran's foes, including the United States. They have accused armed dissidents amongst others of violence that has reportedly left at least 20 members of the security forces dead.

Videos shared on social media showed protests in dozens of cities across Iran early on Sunday with hundreds of high school girls and university students participating despite the use of tear gas, clubs, and in many cases live ammunition by the security forces, rights groups said.