Security forces were authorized to use weapons in protests, Iran lawmaker says
An Iranian lawmaker said on Tuesday that security forces were authorized to use weapons against protesters after a decision by Iran’s top security body, acknowledging a tougher response to nationwide unrest.
Esmail Kowsari, a lawmaker and former Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps general, told the Rouydad24 website that police had not used weapons until late Friday, but that the Supreme National Security Council later approved armed deployment by police, the Basij and the Guards.
“Until Friday night and even Friday morning, the police did not use weapons,” Kowsari said. “After the attacks escalated, the Supreme National Security Council decided that the police, the Basij and the IRGC should enter the scene armed.”
The MP made the comments despite earlier remarks by Iran’s Prosecutor General Mohammad Movahedi, who praised police forces on Sunday for what he called their role in containing recent unrest, saying officers acted “empty-handed” because they were not permitted to use weapons.
More than 36,500 Iranians were killed by security forces during the January 8-9 crackdown on nationwide protests, making it the deadliest two-day protest massacre in history, according to documents reviewed by Iran International.
