Tehran: Iranian police have arrested 139 foreign nationals in the central province of Yazd for their alleged involvement in recent protests, according to a report by the semi official Tasnim news agency on Tuesday. Authorities did not disclose the nationalities of those detained.
Yazd, a largely desert province with a population of just over one million was among several regions affected by nationwide protests that erupted in January. The demonstrations initially began in December over economic hardships but quickly took on a political dimension.
Iranian officials say the unrest was met with the most severe crackdown since the 1979 Islamic Revolution. While the government has put the official death toll at 3,117 human rights organizations claim the number is significantly higher. The US based Human Rights Activists News Agency (HRANA) has reported that nearly 50,000 people have been arrested so far.
Yazd police commander Ahmad Negahban said the detained foreign nationals played an active role in organizing and inciting violence and in some cases maintained links with networks abroad. Iranian authorities have repeatedly blamed Israel and the United States for fueling the unrest.
Judicial officials warned that detainees involved in violent acts would face harsh punishment. The arrests come amid a broader campaign to deport foreign nationals particularly Afghans following heightened security concerns.
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