TEHRAN: Iran’s supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei appointed on Saturday a new police chief, nearly four months into protests triggered by Mahsa Amini’s death.
The Islamic republic has been gripped by unrest since the September 16 death in custody of Iranian Kurdish Amini, 22, following her arrest for allegedly violating the country’s strict dress code for women.
Khamenei, who has the final say in major state policies and is commander-in-chief of Iran’s armed forces, appointed General Ahmad-Reza Radan to replace Hossein Ashtari, said a statement posted on the leader’s official website.
Khamenei ordered the police department to “improve its capabilities” as well as “train specialized forces for various security sectors.”
Radan, born in 1963, was deputy police chief from 2008 to 2014 and went on to lead the police’s Center for Strategic Studies. He was replaced as deputy by Ashtari, who was made the force’s commander in 2015.
Both Radan and Ashtari began their military career in the powerful Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps.
The new police chief was sanctioned by the United States in 2010, and later on by the European Union, over “human rights abuses” in connection with protests that followed Iran’s contested presidential elections of 2009.
In the statement announcing Radan’s appointment, Khamenei expressed “gratitude and satisfaction” with Ashtari’s eight-year service.
Iranian authorities describe the current nationwide protests as “riots” and say hundreds of people, including members of the security forces, have been killed and thousands arrested.
Iran replaces police chief amid protests
https://arab.news/c26xa
Iran replaces police chief amid protests
- Khamenei ordered the police department to “improve its capabilities” as well as “train specialized forces for various security sectors”
Trump and Al-Sharaa highlight need for Syrian unity and efforts to combat terrorism
- US and Syrian presidents stress important need to ensure Kurdish people are protected and their rights guaranteed within the broader framework of the Syrian state
- They express shared aspirations for the emergence of a strong and unified Syria that can effectively face regional and international challenges
LONDON: During discussions on Monday about the latest developments in Syria, the Syrian president, Ahmad Al-Sharaa, and his US counterpart, Donald Trump, emphasized the important need to maintain the country’s territorial integrity and support all efforts to ensure its stability.
During their telephone conversation they stressed that it is essential the Kurdish people are protected and their rights guaranteed within the broader framework of the Syrian state, the Syrian Arab News Agency reported, and they agreed that they would continue to cooperate in efforts to combat the terrorist group Daesh and neutralize its threats.
Al-Sharaa and Trump expressed shared aspirations for the emergence of a strong and unified Syria that can effectively face regional and international challenges, and highlighted the need to ensure the country has a chance to build a better future. They also discussed other regional issues of mutual interest, the news agency added.
