At Least 1,700 People Arrested During Protests in 9 Iranian Provinces
Based on reports, during gatherings over the past 9 days in the provinces of Tehran, Central, Kerman, Golestan, West Azerbaijan, Gilan, Alborz, Ardabil and Razavi Khorasan, at least 1,700 people have been arrested.
Meanwhile, judicial authorities in other Iranian provinces have also announced the arrest of some protesters without specifying numbers.
While reports indicate that gatherings have been held in about 100 Iranian cities in recent days, only authorities from a few provinces have announced the number of those arrested in their provinces.
A number of Telegram channels and the International Campaign for Human Rights website reported that security forces have arrested more than forty students and student labor activists across the country in recent days.
Ghasem Abdollahi, the chief justice of Central Province, announced on Thursday, December 14, that 396 people were arrested on the 8th and 9th of December in this province.
According to Mr. Abdollahi, 294 people in this province were referred to prison with detention orders.
Ali Asghar Tahmasbi, the political, security and social deputy of Golestan’s governor, also announced that 150 people, whom he called “agents” of the gatherings, were arrested in this province.
The Student News Agency, affiliated with student Basij, also reported on December 13 the arrest of 120 protesters in Rasht.
Alireza Radfer, the political deputy of West Azerbaijan’s governor, also reported the arrest of 30 people in this province during recent gatherings.
Mohammad Gheyoumi, the public prosecutor and revolutionary prosecutor of Nazarabad city in Alborz Province, also reported the arrest of six people, whom he called “instigating agents” of the gathering in this city.
Rahmatollah Faramazi, the governor of Mamasani city in Fars Province, also reported the arrest of 9 people in the gatherings in this city.
Also according to the ILNA news agency, Ali Asghar Naserbakht, Tehran’s deputy governor, announced that 450 people were arrested in recent gatherings in Tehran.
Ali Taali, the governor of Hamedan, also reported the arrest of 150 protesters. According to the Farsnews report, he stated that most of those arrested are between 17 and 25 years old.
Ghlamali Abouhamze, the commander of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps in Kerman, also announced that more than 80 protesters were arrested and handed over to “relevant authorities.”
Haji Reza Shakermi, the prosecutor of Karaj, also announced that 20 people, who according to him were “leaders” of recent gatherings, have been arrested. He had stated that regarding the total number of those arrested, “we are not currently providing statistics.”
Hassan Heidari, the prosecutor of Mashhad, also announced that 138 people were arrested in recent gatherings in this city.
Mohammad Takbir-go, the prosecutor of Kashan, reported on December 10 the arrest of 60 protesters in this city.
Naser Atbati, the public prosecutor and revolutionary prosecutor of the center of Ardabil Province, announced the arrest of 40 people following recent gatherings and demonstrations in this province.
Abdullah-zade Pasaki, the police commander of Robat Karim city, also reported on December 11 the arrest of 11 people in gatherings in Parand city.
Hossein Zolfaghari, the Interior Ministry deputy, had previously announced that most of those arrested in recent gatherings are under 25 years of age.
Meanwhile, Massoumeh Ebtekar, the Vice President for Women and Family Affairs, noting that “a considerable number of those arrested” are young people, added that “we need deep intergenerational dialogue. We certainly need to hear the voices of teenagers and young people, because we have not provided sufficient space and opportunity to hear the voices of the 1970s and 1980s generation in families or in society.”
According to official statistics, at least 22 people have been killed in recent gatherings.
Source: Radio Farda
