Iran intelligence ministry warns against attending protests

People light a fire during a protest over the death of Mahsa Amini, a woman who died after being arrested by the Islamic republic's "morality police", in Tehran, Iran September 21, 2022. WANA (West Asia News Agency) via REUTERS

(Reuters) - Iran's Intelligence Ministry warned on Thursday that attending protests over the death of a woman in police custody is illegal and demonstrators would face prosecution, Iranian news websites reported.

"Considering the exploitation of recent incidents (protests) by counter-revolutionary (opposition) movements, any presence and participation in such illegal gatherings ... will result in judicial prosecution," the websites quoted the ministry as saying in a statement.