Dozens of civil and political activists arrested amid popular protests in Iran
On Thursday, September 21, security agents of the Islamic Republic arrested dozens of civil, political, and press activists in the midst of nationwide protests in Iran.
Various cities in Iran have been the scene of widespread protests since Saturday in response to the death of Mahsa Amini in the custody of the Ershad patrol. Meanwhile, reports indicate a new round of clashes with civil society activists and raids by security forces on their homes.
Reports emerged on Thursday of the arrest of reformist political activist Mohammad Reza Jalaipour, who had launched campaigns on Instagram to protest against the mandatory hijab and Islamic guidance patrols following the death of Mahsa Amini.
Ruhollah Nakhaei, Zahra Tohidi, Hoda Tohidi, and Alireza Khoshbakht are among the other political activists who were arrested on Thursday.
Among the women activists arrested were Gina Modarres Karaji in Sanandaj, Evin Rasti in Marivan, Leila Salehi in Bijar, and Mansoureh Mousavi in Mashhad.
The arrests also included student activists, some of whom include Alireza Sabrian, secretary of the Islamic Medical Sciences Association at Mashhad University, Bardia Shakourifard, an economics student at Tehran University, Mehrdad Arendan, a student at the Faculty of Economics at Allameh Tabatabaei University, Mohammad Nouri, a master's student in economics at Tehran University, Mohammad Arab, secretary of the Islamic Culture and Civilization Association at Noshirvani University of Babol, Behrouz Shirbeigi, a bachelor's student in sociology at Allameh Tabatabaei University, and Farhad Shoja-Heidari, a master's student in social work.
According to a report by the National Religious Website, Frank Rafiei, Baran Saedi, Mahro Hedayati, Azadeh Jamati, Bahar Zangiband, Gashin Mohammadian, and Rizan Ahmadi have also been arrested in Kurdistan.
A day earlier, Niloufar Hamedi, a reporter for the Shargh newspaper, had been arrested. Ms. Hamedi had been following the condition of Mahsa Amini in Kasra Hospital and had published several reports on the matter.
In recent days, in addition to the arrest of a number of civil and political activists, press photographer Yalda Moeiri was also arrested.
Ms. Moeiri was arrested on Monday, November 19, during protests over the death of Mahsa (Zina) Amini in central Tehran on Hijab Street.
In response to the publication of this news, the Committee to Protect Journalists issued a statement criticizing the arrest of the press photographer and calling for his release.
Source: Radio Farda
