HRANA – IRGC Intelligence in Qazvin Province announced the arrest of 166 citizens under the label of “leaders” of the protests. In Fars Province, at least 18 protesting citizens were arrested. Meanwhile, a number of protesters in Mashhad were detained on charges of killing a security force member. Several citizens were also arrested in Ilam Province, where the provincial Intelligence Organization reported the arrest of one citizen on charges of killing the police commander of Holilan County.
According to Tasnim News Agency, a number of protesting citizens were arrested in Mashhad. The report, without specifying the identities or number of those detained, claims that these arrests were carried out on charges related to the killing of Farajollah Shoushtari during the nationwide protests in Mashhad.
Separately, the state broadcaster IRIB reported that the IRGC Intelligence in Qazvin Province had arrested 166 protesting citizens. These arrests were carried out under the designation of “agents of the main protest leaders.”
Mehr News Agency also reported the arrest of a woman in the city of Sabzevar. At the same time, a video of her forced confession was released, though it remains unclear under what conditions it was recorded.
Daneshjoo News Agency likewise aired a video reporting the arrest of a number of citizens in Fars Province. At least 18 individuals can be seen in the footage. Simultaneously, videos containing forced confessions from some of these citizens were also published.
IRIB further announced that several citizens who protested on January 8 in the cities of Sarableh, Asmanabad, Holeylan, Arkavaz-e Malekshahi, and Abdanan were arrested. The media outlet claimed that these individuals were responsible for damaging public and government property, banks, setting fire to the Friday prayer leader’s office and the main mosque of Sarableh, blocking roads, armed intimidation, and threatening shopkeepers in these cities.
In the same report, the Ilam Province Intelligence announced the arrest of one citizen on charges of killing the police commander of Holeylan County. In addition, it was claimed that several citizens in Darreh Shahr County were arrested under accusations of “links to group elements and ethnic separatists.”
None of these reports provided information regarding the identities or places of detention of the arrested citizens.
It should be noted that gatherings and strikes by shopkeepers and bazaar merchants began in Tehran on Sunday, December 28. After two days, the scope of these actions expanded beyond bazaars and commercial centers. With the participation of students, citizens, and various social groups, these protests became one of the most widespread demonstrations in recent years. For more information, readers may refer to HRANA’s detailed report on the twenty-third day of protests, published last night.
