Already over 50 thousand arrested in Iran after anti-government protests

At least 50,235 people have been arrested in Iran during the crackdown on protests that have been ongoing since December, reported the American non-governmental organization Human Rights Activists News Agency (HRANA). According to her, arrests are still ongoing.

HRANA said the arrests affected “many groups of citizens, including students, writers and teachers.” In some cases, they were accompanied by “house searches and confiscation of personal belongings.” Additionally, the organization reported over 300 “forced confessions” broadcast on television.

As AFP recalled, last week another human rights organization, Amnesty International, expressed concern about the arrests of thousands of people, including children. She warned that they were at risk of torture and other forms of ill-treatment, as well as death in custody and extrajudicial executions after clearly fabricated trials.

Iran's chief judge, Golamhoseyn Mohseni Ezei, has warned that there will be no “lenient sentences” for those involved in the protests. According to the prosecutor's office, some of them may be charged with crimes punishable by death.

A wave of protests in Iran began in the last days of December. Although their initial trigger was the deteriorating economic situation, they quickly acquired a political character and spread throughout the country. The authorities suppressed the protests, which peaked on January 8-9. It is not known exactly how many people died, but the number of victims is increasingly estimated at thousands or even tens of thousands. Tehran accused the United States and Israel of inciting the riots.

US President Donald Trump warned that due to the mass killings of Iranians, the US may strike militarily against the regime in Tehran.

The state news agency Tasnim reported that talks between Iran and the US could take place within a few days. According to Iran International, they could start on Friday. The talks are to be held under the chairmanship of Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Aragchi and US administration envoy Steve Witkoff. (PAP)

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