Foreigners Involved in Protests and Unrest, Iran Says
Citizens of France, Germany, Italy, Poland, and the Netherlands arrested in recent weeks.
Iran claims it has evidence that foreign nationals from France, Germany, Italy, Poland, and the Netherlands were involved in the country’s protests in recent weeks and arrested in early October.
To date, it’s believed that nine foreign nationals have been arrested in connection to the protests triggered by the death of Mahsa Amini.
“Regarding foreign nationals detained in Iran in connection with riots, information, evidence and explanations have been provided to the countries concerned,” foreign ministry spokesman Nasser Kanani tells reporters.
According to the International Federation of Journalists, 32 journalists have been arrested inside the country and Instagram and WhatsApp have been blocked.
Around the world, opposition figures continue to call for more pressure on the regime to stop the violence. According to rights groups, more than 300 people, including at least 41 children, have been killed since the protests started.
Last month, 43 international human rights organizations urged the United Nations to intervene and investigate the on-going crisis.
According to Al Jazeera, Germany and Iceland submitted a request on Friday on behalf of 42 countries to hold a special session of the UN Human Rights Council later this month on the continuing demonstrations. This would signal the first time such a meeting would be convened on Iran.
Iran is pushing back on international criticism, warning UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres during a phone call last Thursday that convening a council meeting would constitute a “political move,” one that would adversely affect Iran’s relations with the West.
As of today’s date, one protestor has already been issued the death sentence with hundreds more charged and awaiting court dates.