Thread by @HanifJazayeri

THREAD on impunity in Iran ⬇️

Ebrahim Raisi's government has sent a new law to Parliament for ratification that would allow all armed forces or agents in Iran to be able to use their weapons to attack dissident protesters without fear of consequences, state media reported today.

While the opposition routinely sends out footage from Iran via social media of armed forces shooting at defenceless protesters, the new law is aimed at giving blanket immunity to those armed forces who are caught firing at people during the #IranProtests.

Today's state-run @EtemadOnline has this headline:

"New government bill: Granting the right to security agents to use weapons in 'illegal armed demonstrations'"

i.e. Raisi is authorising Iran's security forces to open fire on the #IranProtests

Source: etemadonline.com/fa/tiny/news-5…

The bill, which will be debated in parliament in the coming weeks, will change the legal term "Armed Forces Agents" to "Armed Agents".

In addition to the armed forces, "other persons authorized by law to carry weapons" will be able to use them based on the new law's provisions.

Per the bill: If "individuals who are armed by the authorities to protect themselves" commit a crime, they will not be punished in accordance with the Islamic Penal Code. Where their use of weapons is considered a "legitimate" defense, there will be no need to pay compensation.

The report adds:

While the current law only allows military and police officers to use weapons to establish order and security in illegal armed demonstrations, unrest & riots on the order of the operation commander, the government's bill allows "security agents" to use arms too.

EtemadOnline's report quotes lawmaker Mehdi Saadati, Member of the Majlis' National Security and Foreign Policy Committee, as announcing the new government bill in an interview with the state-run YJC news agency.

Source of YJC report, 10 June 2022: yjc.news/00YE6o

#Iran

It's worth pointing out that ‌Mehdi Saadati, the lawmaker announcing the new bill that allows Iran's security forces to open fire on #IranProtests, is an IRGC Brig General, a former IRGC Commander in Hormozgan, Hamedan, Mazandaran & Khuzestan & a former Governor of Gilan Province

Of course, Iran's regime has always resorted to armed suppression of #IranProtests. But attempts now to legalize the brutality stem from a culture of impunity fueled in part by the UN's failure to hold mass murderer Ebrahim Raisi accountable for major crimes inc the #1988Massacre