Iran president warns against 'chaos' as protests continue


As protests continue across Iran over of the death of 22-year-old Mahsa Amini while in police custody, Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi has warned that he will not accept "chaos" throughout the country. The protests have caused 41 deaths, including security personnel, and approximately 1,200 arrests, per state media as reported by the BBC.
Amini died in the hospital on Sept.16 after being detained by morality police for allegedly violating the law requiring women to wear a hijab or headscarf. Raisi said that Amini's death "saddened all" and promised that it would be investigated properly by forensics and that they would "report on her death in the coming days."
Amini's death sparked widespread anti-government protests. The Iranian government attempted to stifle the backlash through the use of tear gas, clubs, and even ammunition; however, the protests nevertheless persisted, reports Reuters. Iran's former judiciary chief issued a warning that there is a difference between protests and riots and that "those who took part in the riots must be dealt with decisively."
The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.

Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
Support for the protests has come from all around the world and includes several Iranian celebrities inside and outside the country. Iran's judiciary has warned that charges will be pressed accordingly, Reuters continues. The government has also accused the United States and some European countries of trying to destabilize the Islamic Republic through unrest.
"The government's red line is our people's security," Raisi said in an interview, "One cannot allow people to disturb the peace of society through riots."
A free daily email with the biggest news stories of the day – and the best features from TheWeek.com
Devika Rao has worked as a staff writer at The Week since 2022, covering science, the environment, climate and business. She previously worked as a policy associate for a nonprofit organization advocating for environmental action from a business perspective.
-
Democrats’ strategy to woo voters for 2026: religion
The Explainer Politicians like Rob Sand and James Talarico have made a name for themselves pushing their faith
-
Pregnancy in America
Feature Why is it getting riskier to give birth in the U.S.?
-
The potential warning sign of an auto lender’s bankruptcy
In the Spotlight Tricolor collapse an ‘extreme example’ of economy’s challenges
-
How Benjamin Netanyahu shaped Israel in his own image
The Explainer He has seldom been personally popular, but ‘King Bibi’ is an exceptionally shrewd operator
-
House posts lewd Epstein note attributed to Trump
Speed Read The estate of Jeffrey Epstein turned over the infamous 2003 birthday note from President Donald Trump
-
Supreme Court allows 'roving' race-tied ICE raids
Speed Read The court paused a federal judge's order barring agents from detaining suspected undocumented immigrants in LA based on race
-
South Korea to fetch workers detained in Georgia raid
Speed Read More than 300 South Korean workers detained in an immigration raid at a Hyundai plant will be released
-
DC sues Trump to end Guard 'occupation'
Speed Read D.C. Attorney General Brian Schwalb argues that the unsolicited military presence violates the law
-
RFK Jr. faces bipartisan heat in Senate hearing
Speed Read The health secretary defended his leadership amid CDC turmoil and deflected questions about the restricted availability of vaccines
-
White House defends boat strike as legal doubts mount
Speed Read Experts say there was no legal justification for killing 11 alleged drug-traffickers
-
Epstein accusers urge full file release, hint at own list
speed read A rally was organized by Reps. Ro Khanna and Thomas Massie, who are hoping to force a vote on their Epstein Files Transparency Act