Interior Minister:

No Student among Arrestees in Iran Unrest

TEHRAN (defapress) – There is no university student among those arrested in connection with the recent unrest in Iran, the interior minister said on Tuesday, adding that fewer than 300 people remain in custody on charges of involvement in the riots.

News ID: 68351

Date: 30 January 2018 - 15:35

Based on the latest reports from across Iran, fewer than 300 individuals arrested during the recent violent unrest remain in custody, Abdolreza Rahmani Fazli said on Tuesday, adding that the Judiciary is handling their cases.

He also said that no university student is being held in custody in connection with the riots.

Earlier this month, Iranian Police Commander Brigadier General Hossein Ashtari said his forces have released many of those arrested during the unrest to investigate their cases in future.

The general also explained that no police unit was armed with assault rifles in the recent unrest, in compliance with a directive by the General Staff of the Iranian Armed Forces.

In late December, peaceful protests over economic problems broke out in a number of Iranian cities, but the gatherings turned violent in some places when groups of participants, some of them armed, vandalized public property and launched attacks on police stations and government buildings.

Following the unrest, people held several demonstrations across the country to condemn the violent riots and acts of vandalism, and voice support for the Islamic Republic’s Establishment.

Security forces say many rioters arrested in the recent unrest have been trained by the MKO terrorists or had links with Takfiri terrorist groups.