Iranian President Hassan Rouhani said on
Sunday Iranians had the right to protest and criticize the authorities but
their actions should not lead to violence or damage public property, Reuters
reported on Monday.
“People are absolutely free to criticize
the government and protest but their protests should be in such a way as to
improve the situation in the country and their life,” Rouhani was quoted by the
official IRNA news agency as telling the cabinet.
“Criticism is different from
violence and damaging public properties.”
Anti-government protesters
demonstrated on Sunday in defiance of a warning by the authorities of a tough
crackdown, extending for a fifth day one of the most audacious challenges to
the clerical leadership since pro-reform unrest in 2009.
Tens of thousands of people
have protested across the country since Thursday against the Iran's unelected
clerical elite and Iranian foreign policy in the region. They have also chanted
slogans in support of political prisoners.
“Resolving the problems is
not easy and would take time. The government and people should help each other
to resolve the issues,” Rouhani said, according to IRNA.
Rouhani also rebuffed US
President Donald Trump’s comments in support of the protests.
“This man in America who is
sympathizing today with our people has forgotten that he called the Iranian
nation terrorists a few months ago. This man who is against the Iranian nation
to his core has no right to sympathize with Iranians,” Rouhani said.
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