900 arrests made in Shiraz, 450 administrators of social networks arrested,825 women’s clothing stores and shops sealed
Fearing spread of general protests and under the pretext of “provision of security”, the clerical regime has stepped up repression all across the country.
In an attempt to justify 900 arrests made in just two days, on September 3 and 4, Nasser Keshavarz, deputy commander of the State Security Force in Fars Province, said: The arrests were made following the implementation of the “Plan for General Security” and “in line with improvement of social security and added security coefficient.” (State-run Tabnak website, September 7, 2016)
Sajedi-Nia, Commander of Greater Tehran’s State Security Force, also gave news of the arrest of 300 people on September 6, 2016. He noted a 32 per cent increase in the arrests compared to the similar period last year and declared that 9,900 addicts have been arrested since the beginning of the year (5.5 months).
The State Security Force and Revolutionary Guards’ arrests of hundreds of young girls and boys in Tehran, Shiraz, Amol, and Kerman for participating in co-ed parties have been among other repressive measures in recent days.
The regime’s commanders are neither able to conceal their fear from the youths’ growing activities on the internet. Saeid Montazer-ol Mahdi, a deputy SSF commander, pointed out that there are 46 million Iranians using the internet. He expressed concern over the 47 per cent increase of this figure compared to the previous year. He said: Youths comprise the largest number of internet users. 29 million of those using the internet are youths, therefore provision of security in the cyber space has always been an important item on the agenda of the police. Of course, other departments also share responsibility in this regard.”
Youths have been increasingly embracing the social networks while the clerical regime has imposed various bans and restrictions on membership of social networks by youths. To counter this realm of social activities, the clerical regime’s repressive organs have clamped down on administrators and users of social networks in a number of provinces including Tehran, Fars, Kurdistan, Kermanshah, Charmahal-o Bakhtiari, Ilam, Kohgilouyeh and Boyer Ahmad, Qazvin, Ardebil and Khorassan. According to the statement of the IRGC Cyberspace Institute, 450 administrators of social networks have been summoned and arrested. (State-run ISNA news agency – September 1, 2016)
At the same time, according to Montazer-ol Mahdi, 825 shops and stores selling women’s clothing have been sealed over the past ten days. (State-run Tabnak website, September 5, 2016)
The Iranian Resistance calls on the people of Iran, especially the youths, to expand their protests against the Velayat-e Faqih regime. The NCRI also calls on all international human rights organs to condemn the unbridled repression and arbitrary arrests taking place in Iran. All relations with the religious fascism ruling Iran must be made contingent on end to executions and improvement of the situation of human rights in Iran.
Secretariat of the National Council of Resistance of Iran
September 9, 2016
