Iran announces the arrest of nine foreign citizens for their alleged participation in the protests

Iranian security forces announced this Friday the arrest of nine foreign citizens, from Germany, Poland, Italy, France, the Netherlands and Sweden, for their alleged participation in the protests over the death in police custody of Mahsa Amini, 22. , arrested by the morality police.

The demonstrations started shortly after the woman's death, on September 16, and have spread throughout the country.

Since then, the repression of the protests has left several dozen people, 41 according to official media;

83 according to the NGO Iran Human Rights.

Although the concentrations have decreased in intensity, they have not ceased.

The nine arrested Europeans "participated in riots or conspired in the background," Iran's Ministry of Intelligence and National Security reported Friday.

"People are not going to stop protesting," a young activist from Shiraz said last week.

"The regime is going to intensify the pressure," warned another protester, who has participated in previous protests that also seemed to change everything: "They are going to target celebrities to 'set an example.'

This week, Tehran has warned that "they will take measures against public figures who stir up the flames of the riots", in the words of the provincial governor of the capital, Mohsen Mansouri, collected by the Iranian agency ISNA.

It was the regime's response to various celebrities showing support for Iranian women.

On Tuesday, during a game, the players of the Persian soccer team did not take off their black jackets while the anthem of their country was played to protest against the repression against the demonstrators.

The authorities have used batons, tear gas, but also live fire, as reported by the UN.

Film director Asghar Farhadi, winner of two Oscars for best foreign-language film, had asked on Sunday "artists, filmmakers, intellectuals, civil rights activists... All those who believe in the dignity and freedom of people who show their solidarity with the brave women and men of Iran,” he posted on Instagram.

"Communication with Iran is more difficult," says Mariam, 45, from Paris.

She has lost contact with a friend of hers, who is out protesting every night.

“We have been very worried.

But another friend has told me that he has managed to talk to him and that he is fine “I have been told that a friend has managed to talk to him and that he is fine,” she continues.

Since the riots began, more than 1,400 people have been arrested, including public figures such as former soccer player Hosein Mahini, singer Mona Borzoui and singer-songwriter Shervin Hajipour.

The hair revolt has caught the government off guard in the hands of the ultra-conservative Ebrahim Raisi, who had a majority in the last elections, held in June 2021 and which had the lowest turnout in the country's history.

Since Raisi came to power, the strictness of Islamic law has intensified, as has the pressure on women and their clothing.

After the death of the young Kurdish woman at the hands of the morality police, the pressure spilled over, first arousing the anger of Iranian women, especially the younger ones, and then spreading to all sectors of society.

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