Iran's Rouhani calls for release of innocent, unarmed protesters
Iran's President Hassan Rouhani called on Wednesday (December 4) for the release of any unarmed and innocent people, who were detained during protests against gasoline price hikes.
Violent clashes erupted in mid-November after the government abruptly raised fuel prices by as much as 300%.
A lawmaker said last week that about 7,000 protesters had been arrested - a number which the judiciary rejects.
Tehran has given no official death toll, but Amnesty International said on Monday (December 2) it had documented the deaths of at least 208 protesters…
making the disturbances the bloodiest since the 1979 uprising that swept Shi'ite clerics to power.
The struggle of ordinary Iranians to make ends meet has become harder since last year when U.S. President Donald Trump withdrew the United States from Tehran's nuclear deal with six world powers, and reimposed sanctions that have further crippled Iran's oil-based economy.
