Geneva, Rabi'II 18, 1439, Jan 5, 2018, SPA -- Human rights advocates called on the Iranian regime to respect human rights and respond to the legitimate demands of demonstrators. In a statement issued here today, four human rights advocates expressed concern over the violence being carried out by the Iranian regime against peaceful demonstrators, which led to the death of more than 22 persons, including children and the arrest of hundreds across Iran, and expressing solidarity with Iranian civil society organizations and concerns about the fate of the detainees. They warned against carrying out orders issued by the Revolutionary Guards to suppress demonstrators, use violence against them and punish them physically, calling for respect for the rights of the demonstrators, especially the right to life, freedom of opinion and expression, access to the Internet and outlets of social networking, prohibited by the Iranian regime. The advocates concluded by calling on the Iranian regime to take necessary measures to redress the problems that led to demonstrations instead of punishing the protestors, with violence and murder. -- SPA 20:41 LOCAL TIME 17:41 GMT www.spa.gov.sa/w581081