Widespread Arrests of Protesters Against Turkish Attack on Syria in Various Iranian Cities

Over the past days, dozens of people have been arrested following protest gatherings condemning the Turkish military’s attack on northern Syria in more than 20 cities across Kurdistan Province and Tehran.

According to a report by the human rights website Hengaw, more than 50 people have been arrested by security agencies in the cities of Marivan, Javanrood, Sanandaj, Paveh, Sardasht, Urmia, Baneh, Piranshahr, and Tehran on charges of participating in protest gatherings to condemn Turkey’s military operations inside Syria and against Kurds.

Based on this report, seven people were arrested in Marivan, six in Javanrood, 23 in Tehran, three in Sardasht, three in Sanandaj, one in Urmia, one in Baneh, ten in Paveh, and one in Piranshahr.

The Hengaw human rights organization has published the identities of a number of those arrested whose information has been verified by the organization.

According to this human rights website, in recent days dozens of Kurdish citizens have also been summoned to the intelligence agency and warned about participating in protest gatherings.

Previously, Voice of America had published a short video of protesters against Turkey’s attack on northern Syria in Kermanshah city on its Twitter page.

The Turkish military began its military operations inside Syria and against Kurds on Wednesday, October 9, which Ankara says cooperate with forces of the Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK).

Turkey considers PKK members a terrorist group and says the operations are aimed at combating terrorism and creating a safe buffer zone along the borders shared by the two countries.

Reuters news agency also reported on Tuesday, October 15, citing a statement from Syrian Kurdish officials that following Turkey’s attack on northeastern Syria, more than 275,000 people have been displaced, with more than 70,000 children among the displaced.

U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo also, referring to the sanctioning of two Turkish ministries and three ministers, called on the country to immediately stop its attacks in Syria and return to the negotiating table.

The United States opposed Turkey’s military operations from the beginning and warned of their grave humanitarian and security consequences.

Source: Voice of America