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Iran Hints At Reform Of ‘Morality Police’ In Wake Of Protests

The death of 22-year-old Mahsa Amini after her arrest by Iran's morality police has sparked deadly protests in the country.

<div class="paragraphs"><p>Scores of women across the world are protesting against Iran's morality police and Mahsa Amini's death.</p></div>
Scores of women across the world are protesting against Iran's morality police and Mahsa Amini's death.

Iran is open to reviewing how it applies strict Islamic laws at the heart of widespread protests -- but not the values that underpin them, the president said.

“We should pursue the best methods for the implementation of the law - every law,” Ebrahim Raisi told state TV in an interview, adding that “what isn’t subject to change are values.”

The death of 22-year-old Mahsa Amini after her arrest by so-called morality police who enforce Islamic laws on women’s clothing sparked deadly protests that have channeled widespread discontent over the rules. 

“I always said officials should raise the threshold of their tolerance,” Raisi said.

Why a Woman’s Death in Iran Has Ignited New Protests: QuickTake

He drew a distinction between protests and “riots,” echoing calls from other top officials for “rioters” to be punished.

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