TEHRAN, Jan. 2 (Xinhua) -- Iran's judiciary on Tuesday called on the participants in violent unrests against the consequences of their disorderly conduct, Tasnim news agency reported.
Rioters arrested, after the Interior Ministry's note of ban on such gatherings, will have to face more severe punishment because they have consciously taken to the streets and resorted to violence, Head of Tehran's Revolutionary Tribunal, Mousa Qazanfarabadi was quoted as saying.
As the days pass by, those arrested in riots will face heavier penalties, as they are not deemed to be protestors any more, but rioters seeking to harm the core of the Establishment, said Qazanfarabadi.
The court chief said that individuals already detained in Tehran and other cities on charges of leading the riots and having links with foreign espionage services will appear in court very soon.
Qazanfarabadi went on to say that a number of the most wanted mercenaries have been captured by the security forces amid the recent riots.
On Monday, Judiciary Chief Ayatollah Sadeq Amoli Larijani ordered the country's prosecutors to take serious measures in dealing with the rioters vandalizing public properties amid the recent civil protests.
Amoli Larijani urged the prosecutors to monitor the situation closely, steer those pursuing legitimate demands towards lawful methods, and get tough with vandals destroying public and private properties and violating the rights of others.
At least eight people, including seven civilians and one security policeman, were killed and dozens injured as protests against the government's economic policies, including looming price hikes, continued in major cities across Iran over the past days.
According to Iran's security officials, scores of protesters were arrested.
