Top Iranian Cleric Demands Death Penalty Amid Nationwide Protests
TEHRAN, Iran — Amid escalating nationwide protests that have gripped Iran since late December, a senior Iranian cleric has publicly called for the death penalty for detained demonstrators, intensifying the government’s harsh crackdown on dissent. Ayatollah Ahmad Khatami, a prominent prayer leader who has previously labeled protesters as “Trump’s soldiers,” delivered a fiery sermon broadcast by Iranian state radio, urging executions and sparking chants from worshippers demanding that “armed hypocrites should be put to death.”
Khatami’s sermon also provided the first official figures on the damage caused by the protests, which erupted in response to political and economic grievances and have been met with severe repression. According to his remarks, approximately 350 mosques and 400 hospitals have suffered damage amid the unrest, painting a picture of widespread disruption across the country. These statistics come after the Iranian regime imposed a nationwide internet blackout on January 8, severely limiting independent reporting and communication.
The cleric’s call for capital punishment follows threats from U.S. President Donald Trump, who warned of possible American intervention should the Iranian government use excessive force against protesters. The situation has drawn international condemnation, with human rights organizations and foreign governments expressing alarm over the regime’s violent response.
Iran’s crackdown has included mass arrests, with many detainees reportedly facing harsh treatment. The U.S. Department of State has documented numerous cases of torture and extrajudicial killings during the regime’s suppression of dissent. Meanwhile, the Amnesty International continues to monitor violations amid ongoing unrest.
The unrest has also heightened regional tensions, with Kurdish armed groups attempting to breach Iran’s borders, further complicating the security landscape. The Central Intelligence Agency’s World Factbook notes that Iran’s internal stability is critical to the broader Middle East geopolitical balance.
Despite the regime’s efforts to portray the protests as foreign-instigated, the scale and persistence of the demonstrations reflect deep-rooted dissatisfaction among Iran’s population. The government’s narrative, as amplified by clerics like Khatami, frames the unrest as a conspiracy led by external enemies, particularly the United States.
As the crisis unfolds, international observers are closely watching developments, with the United Nations calling for restraint and respect for human rights. The calls for executions by Iran’s religious leadership mark a grim escalation, underscoring the regime’s determination to quell dissent at any cost.
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