On the advent of the new school year and fearful of uprisings and protests by students, the clerical regime has embarked on a further crackdown in Tehran and other Iranian cities.

During this suppressive campaign, begun several weeks ago code-named "Victory" and on the pretext of "combating trouble-makers," thousands of people, especially teenagers, have been arrested on bogus charges.

Brig. Gen. Reza Zarei, State Security Forces (SSF) commander for Tehran Province announced that in Tehran at least 12,500 people have been arrested, 64 percent of whom were between 25 to 29 years of age and 55 percent of those were without high school diplomas.

Noting that in recent days more than 400 mobile and motorized patrols have been in operation in Tehran, he said 3,000 more trouble-makers had been identified and arrested and 227 had been given prison terms by the Judiciary.

Simultaneous with the widespread arrests, degrading and inhuman punishments of young people continues. In the past two weeks, the suppressive forces have paraded dozens of youngsters in Tehran and Babol (northern Iran), while enchaining them.

In East Azerbaijan Province, the SSF have arrested hundreds of young people in Tabriz and other cities in the province under various pretexts. Brig. Nosrati, SSF commander in the Province said 235 such persons were arrested in Tabriz and prosecuted.

The Iranian Resistance draws the attention of international human rights organizations to the new wave of repression, arrests and public hangings in Iran. It calls on the United Nations General Assembly to adopt a strongly-worded resolution censuring the persistent and flagrant violations of human rights by the mullahs' inhuman regime.

Secretariat of the National Council of Resistance of Iran
September 23, 2005