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Asharq Al-Awsat
Asharq Al-Awsat
World
London – Asharq Al-Awsat

Controversy Erupts over Death Threats Chanted against Rouhani, IRGC Denies Involvement

Iranian Qom Clerics hold banners criticizing the spread of corruption in Iran last Thursday (Shafaqna)

A death threat delivered to Iranian President Hassan Rouhani became a topic of hot national debate for the cleric-led country, while the Iranian Revolutionary Guards (IRGC) issued a statement denying any role of its forces in organizing Feyziyeh School protests in Qom.

At the protests, clerics and demonstrators chanted violent anti-Rouhani slogans.

On Tuesday, Iranian senior cleric Nasser Makarem Shirazi issued a statement saying that the protest in Qom was “a catastrophe in every sense of the word.”

He called on IRGC to clarify its position and elaborate on its members taking part in the demonstrations. Shirazi also expressed surprise at the threat of “death” directed against the president as Iran passes through what he labeled as a “sensitive state.”

“One of the participants raised a banner in his hand threatening the president with death," said Shirazi in a statement.

In turn, Iranian cleric Hussein Nuri Hamdani said it was regretful to hear protestors chanting such slogans, and considered them incorrect.

The IRGC published a statement denying any role of its forces in the protests, and strongly condemned “some slogans and signs” raised at the protest, ISNA reported.

In response to accusations about the involvement of IRGC in clergymen protests on August 16, the body said that all the evidence shows that the demonstration was held spontaneously and “IRGC had no plans for the presence of its forces in the event.”

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