Protests in Iran: At least one German arrested

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Protests in Iran on September 22: Numerous arrests

Photo: - / AFP

Nine foreign nationals have apparently been arrested in Iran in connection with the anti-government protests.

According to the Iranian Ministry of Intelligence, at least one German is among them.

In addition, people from Poland, Italy, France, the Netherlands, Sweden and other countries were arrested "on the spot" or were "involved in the unrest".

The media had previously reported that a well-known football player had been arrested in addition to demonstrators and artists.

The 36-year-old former national player Hossein Mahini was arrested because of his support for the ongoing protests, as reported by the sports portal »khabarvarzeshi«.

The human rights organization Amnesty International accuses the Iranian leadership of a systematic escalation of violence.

According to the organization, 52 women, men and children died as a result of the actions of the security forces.

Amnesty said the organization had a copy of a document showing that as early as September 21, the commanders of the armed forces in all provinces had ordered the commanders in all provinces to crack down on demonstrators.

They were described as »troublemakers and opponents of the revolution«.

The order proves that the escalation of violence and the use of live ammunition are systematic and a conscious strategy on the part of the Iranian leadership.

Meanwhile, Iranian cleric Mohammed-Javad Hajjali-Akbari said at Friday prayers in Tehran that the people are calling for the death penalty for "troublemakers."

Trigger: Death of 22-year-old Mahsa Amini

The background to the demonstrations is the death of 22-year-old Mahsa Amini.

The moral police had arrested her because of her allegedly "un-Islamic outfit".

What exactly happened to Amini after that is unclear.

The woman had fallen into a coma and died in a hospital on September 16.

Since then, thousands have been demonstrating across the country against the government's repressive course and the Islamic system.

There is currently little information about the demonstrations due to the restrictions on the internet.

According to eyewitnesses, protests also take place on the roofs of houses.

Neighbors gather there and shout system-critical slogans.

The fate of a musician is unclear: the Iranian singer Schwerwin Hajipur had more than 40 million clicks on Instagram with a protest song – but the video was removed on Thursday evening.

The singer is said to have been arrested in the north of the country.

The song entitled "For" describes, among other things, the demands of the demonstrators.

"For longing for a normal life, for dancing in the streets, for kissing without fear," the song says.

ptz/dpa/AFP/AP