Police chief says 'no more restraint' as more die in Iran unrest
The commander suggested that his forces had so far tolerated the unrest, while rights activists counted the killings of over 470 protesters at the hands of security forces.
TEHRAN — Iran’s police chief Hossein Ashtari issued yet another warning to the protesters who have been flocking Iranian streets for nearly three months since the death of 22-year-old Mahsa Amini in custody of hijab enforcing Guidance Patrol.
"Security forces will no longer exercise restraint," announced the commander Dec. 8, praising his officers for their active presence nationwide to counter "seditionists," one of many labels Iranian officials have attached to anti-government protesters.
Ashtari said Iranian police have succeeded in keeping the protesters away from their "evil and empty" goals.
According to data collected and updated by the foreign-based Human Rights Activists News Agency, at least 475 protesters, including 65 minors, have been killed in the unrest. The same source has documented the deaths of 61 security personnel.
