From the Liveblog of
Friday, January 16, 2026
Iranian cleric, demanding protesters’ executions, says 350 mosques were damaged
DUBAI, United Arab Emirates (AP) — A cleric leading Friday prayers in Iran’s capital demands the death penalty for protesters detained in a nationwide crackdown.
He also issues a call for the arrest of “individuals who supporters the rioters in any way.”
Cleric Ahmad Khatami’s sermon, carried by Iranian state radio, sparks chants from those gathered for prayers, including: “Armed hypocrites should be put to death!”
Executions, as well as the killing of peaceful protesters, had been two of the red lines laid down by Trump for possible military action against Iran over the protests.
Khatami, appointed by Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei and a member of both the country’s Assembly of Experts and Guardian Council, describes the protesters as the “butlers” of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and “Trump’s soldiers.” He insists their plans “had imagined disintegrating the country.”
“They should wait for hard revenge from the system,” Khatami says of Netanyahu and Trump. “Americans and Zionists should not expect peace.”
In his sermon, Khatami also provides initial statistics on damage from the protests. He claims 350 mosques, 126 prayer halls and 20 other holy places sustained damage.
Another 80 homes of Friday prayer leaders — an important position within Iran’s theocracy — were also damaged, he says.
Khatami says 400 hospitals, 106 ambulances, 71 fire department vehicles and another 50 emergency vehicles sustained damage.
As a public cleric, Khatami would have access to such data from authorities, and mentioning it at Friday prayers likely means Iran’s government wanted the information to be communicated without having to formally address the public.
The Times of Israel Community.