Iran\u2019s Chief Public Prosecutor Mohammad Movahedi Azad said on Saturday that anyone who takes part in protests will be considered an \u201cenemy of God,\u201d which is a criminal offense punishable by death in Iran.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Despite this threat, protests continued in more than 100 cities and towns across all provinces of Iran. According to estimates, since the unrest began more than two weeks ago, hundreds of demonstrators have been arrested.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The protests were initially sparked by a sudden rise in inflation, but they quickly turned into an open political uprising with demands for the overthrow of the clerical regime and the departure of Iran\u2019s supreme leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Ayatollah Ali Khamenei dismissed the demonstrators, calling them a \u201cmob of vandals\u201d who, he said, want to \u201cplease the American president.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
At the same time, the authorities imposed the strictest internet blackout in the country\u2019s history in an attempt to prevent the spread of protests and information.<\/p>\n\n\n\n