<div><span style="font-size: 1rem;">Iran’s police command warned on Wednesday that the force would come down hard on protests that erupted nearly two weeks ago over the death of a young woman in custody.</span><br></div><div><br></div><div>Dozens of people have been killed since nightly demonstrations erupted after Mahsa Amini, a 22-year-old Kurdish woman, died after being arrested in Tehran for allegedly breaching the Islamic republic’s strict rules on hijab headscarves and modest clothing.</div><div><br></div><div>“Today, the enemies of the Islamic Republic of Iran and some rioters seek to disrupt the order, security and comfort of the nation using any pretext,” the police command said in a statement.</div><div><br></div><div>“Police officers will oppose with all their might the conspiracies of counter-revolutionaries and hostile elements, and deal firmly with those who disrupt public order and security anywhere in the country,” it said, quoted by Fars news agency.</div><div><br></div><div>Fars news agency said on Tuesday that “around 60” people had been killed since Amini’s death on Sept 16, up from the official toll of 41 authorities reported on Saturday.</div><div><br></div><div>Officials said Monday they had made more than 1,200 arrests, including of activists, lawyers and journalists. - AFP</div><div><br></div><div>bnbd24/fas</div>