Iran: Protesters gather in Tehran September 9

Event

Protesters gathered outside the French embassy in Tehran and other areas of the capital on Wednesday, September 9, to denounce the republishing of cartoons of Prophet Muhammad in the satirical magazine Charlie Hebdo. The protests came a day after Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei denounced the republishing of the cartoons. 

Similar protests were also reported in Qom on Wednesday.

Further unrest over the issue is possible in Iran over the near term and a heightened security presence and localized disruptions are possible in the vicinity of any demonstrations.

Context

In January 2015, two gunmen stormed the magazine's Paris offices and killed 12 people. The magazine republished the cartoons on September 1, the eve of a trial in Paris of the alleged accomplices in the 2015 attack.

Demonstrations have taken place in several countries like France, Nigeria, Indonesia, Pakistan, Iran, Chechnya and Yemen against the republishing. 

Advice

Those in Iran are advised to monitor developments to the situation, avoid all demonstrations and political gatherings as a precaution, and adhere to all instructions issued by local authorities.