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Amnesty International is calling on Ayatollah Ali Khamenei to immediately retract his statement on Wednesday that criticising the outcome of June’s presidential election is a crime.

The Supreme Leader’s remark was carried by state television in a report from Khamenei's meeting with scientists in Tehran.

“The Ayatollah’s statement seeks to criminalise legitimate peaceful dissent and dissatisfaction with the political process,” said Malcolm Smart, Director of Amnesty International's Middle East and North Africa Programme.

“In dealing with the aftermath of the elections, the Iranian authorities are continuing to commit violation after violation after violation of fundamental human rights. They are trying to muzzle their own people and cow them into silence,”