Human Rights, Political and Labor Activists Detained in Tehran Released

Reports from Tehran indicate that a number of human rights, political, civil and labor activists who were detained on Tuesday evening have been released.

These activists were detained after they intended to hold a gathering in front of the Ministry of Interior in Tehran in support of recent protests in Khuzestan Province.

The detention of Narges Mohammadi, Arash Sadeghi, Rasoul Badaghi, Arash Keykhosravi, Poran Nazemi, Jafar Azimzadeh, Rouhollah Mardani, Hamid Assafi and Behzad Hamayouni was carried out with violence.

Based on a video that was released, Ms. Mohammadi had stated before the detention of these activists, referring to some of them being beaten, that a number of former prisoners, civil activists, mothers of peace and bereaved mothers intended to gather in front of the Ministry of Interior in protest against the “massacre” of the “defenseless, innocent and thirsty” people of Khuzestan, but they were beaten and assaulted, and for this reason they are marching towards Zarathosht Street in Tehran.

Protests and demonstrations began six days ago in several cities in Khuzestan Province. The slogans chanted in these protests were mainly about water scarcity in the western cities of the province, but now as the protests have spread to the eastern regions of the province, they have taken on a political character and protesters are calling for the overthrow of the Islamic Republic system.

Source: Radio Farda