Iran replaces police chief amid bloody protests

Tehran [Iran], January 8: Iran 's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei today appointed a new police chief, as the country has endured nearly four months of bloody protests following the death of MahsaAmini.
Khamenei, who has the final say in major state policies and is the commander-in-chief of Iran's armed forces, has appointed General Ahmad-Reza Radan as police chief, replacing Hossein Ashtari, according to reports. AFP. Khamenei also ordered the Iranian police agency to "enhance capacity" as well as "train specialized forces for different security areas".
In the statement announcing the appointment of Mr. Radan, Iran's supreme leader Khamenei expressed "gratitude and satisfaction" with Ashtari's eight years of service.
Mr. Radan (60 years old) held the position of deputy police chief from 2008-2014 and led the police's Strategic Research Center. Both Radan and Ashtari began their military careers in Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps.
In particular, Mr. Radan was sanctioned by the US in 2010 for "human rights violations" related to protests that took place after Iran's controversial presidential election in 2009.
Khamenei appointed the new police chief amid unrest in Iran since the September 16, 2022 death of 22-year-old Amini, after she was detained by police on charges of violating strict regulations. about the country's dress for women.
The Iranian authorities describe the nationwide protests stemming from Amini's death as "riots", saying hundreds of people, including many members of the security forces, were killed and hundreds of thousands of people died. Thousands of people were detained, according to AFP.
Source: ThanhNien Newspaper