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Protest in Tehran in October: Activists take to the streets again
Photo: Wana News Agency/ REUTERS
The Iranian Revolutionary Guards have threatened the demonstrators in the country.
They would show "no mercy to the enemy's rioters, armed thugs and hired terrorists," the semi-official Tasnim news agency quoted a statement from the armed forces as saying.
In it, the Revolutionary Guards praised the judiciary and called on them to quickly and decisively pass judgment on "those accused of crimes against the security of the nation and against Islam."
Activists in Iran had previously called for new nationwide protests and strikes.
The so-called 14-15-16 protests - the numbers are the date in the Persian calendar month of Azar - are said to last from Monday to Wednesday and hit the Islamic system in particular economically.
Therefore, Iranian citizens were also called upon to avoid shopping on these three days in order to prevent any money from circulating in the Iranian banking system.
According to the activists, as many shops as possible should remain closed, especially in economic centers such as bazaars in large cities.
Police increase presence
According to the Reuters news agency, shops in several cities did not open on Monday morning.
The head of Iran's judiciary, Gholamhossein Mohseni Ejei, claimed that "rioters" were threatening shopkeepers to close their shops.
The judiciary and the security organs would take action against it.
Ejei added that protesters sentenced to death are set to be executed soon.
According to media reports, the police have increased their presence in several parts of Iran.
The Tasnim news agency reports that an amusement park in a Tehran shopping center has been closed by the judiciary because the operators did not wear the hijab properly.
Before the three-day protests, the Iranian Attorney General's statement about the dissolution of the vice squad sparked discussions in the country.
On the one hand, this was seen as a stage victory for the Iranian women's movement.
On the other hand, everyone agreed that this step would be pointless without lifting the compulsory headscarf for women that was imposed more than 40 years ago.
"The dissolution of the vice squad was necessary, but not sufficient until the mandatory dress code law is revised," political scientist Abbas Abdi commented on Twitter.
ptz/dpa