Dozens of Civil and Political Activists Arrested During Iran’s Popular Protests

Security forces of the Islamic Republic arrested dozens of civil, political and media activists on Thursday, September 31st amid widespread protests across Iran.

Since Saturday this week, various cities across Iran have witnessed extensive demonstrations in response to the death of Mahsa Amini in police custody. Reports indicate a new wave of crackdowns on activists and security forces raiding their homes.

Reports on Thursday indicated the arrest of Mohammad Reza Jalaeipour, a reformist political activist. Mr. Jalaeipour had launched campaigns on Instagram social media following Mahsa Amini’s death protesting against the morality police and mandatory hijab.

Rohollah Nakhiei, Zahra Tohidi, Hadi Tohidi and Alireza Khoshbakht are among other political activists arrested on Thursday.

Among female activists, Zhina Modares Karaji was arrested in Sanandaj, Evin Rasti in Marivan, Leila Salehi in Bijar and Mansoureh Mousavi in Mashhad.

Arrests also included student activists, some of whom are Alireza Sabrian, secretary of the Islamic Association of Medical Sciences at Mashhad University, Bordia Shokouri Fard, an economics student at Tehran University, Mehrdad Arandan, an economics student at Allameh Tabatabai University, Mohammad Nouri, a graduate economics student at Tehran University, Mohammad Arab, secretary of the Islamic Culture and Civilization Association at Noshirvani Babol University, Behrouz Shirbigi, a sociology student at Allameh Tabatabai University, and Farhad Shojae-Haidari, a graduate social work student.

According to reports from the national religious website, Frank Rafiee, Baran Saaedi, Mahrou Heidayati, Azadeh Jamati, Bahar Zangi-band, Gashin Mohammadian and Rizan Ahmadi were also arrested in Kurdistan.

A day earlier, Niloofar Hamedi, a journalist with Shargh newspaper, was arrested. Ms. Hamedi had been following up on Mahsa Amini’s condition at Kasriya Hospital and published several reports on the matter.

In recent days, besides the arrest of a number of civil and political activists, Yalda Meiri, a press photographer, was also arrested.

Ms. Meiri was arrested on Monday, November 28th during protests following Mahsa (Zhina) Amini’s death in central Tehran on Hejab Street.

In response to the publication of this news, the Committee for the Protection of Journalists issued a statement criticizing the arrest of the press photographer and called for her release.

Source: Radio Farda