Wave of arrests signe of fear by Iranian regime before the 22 Bahman protests

More arrests on eve of fresh protests in Iran

Nader AhsaniAgents of the Ministry of Intelligence stormed a number of the homes of social and student activists and supporters of Mourning Mothers and arrested them last night. They were taken to section 209 in Evin Prison.
These attacks started on Monday, February 8 at 10:30 pm. The first attack was against the Ahsani family which led to the arrest of Nader and Elham Ahsani. Intelligence agents used five cars loaded with agents for this attack. Nader Ahsani is a student activist who was previously arrested in 2007. Elham Ahsani worked in two NGOs including the Life Flowers Association which aided people infected with HIV and the Suitable World for Children Organization which helped children of labor and street children.
At about 11:30pm, intelligence agents attacked the home of 49 year-old Jila Akram Zadeh who is a supporter of the Mourning Mothers. Five agents forcefully entered her home and after conducting a long search, arrested Akram Zadeh and took her to a solitary cell in section 209 in Evin Prison.
At about 3:30 am, intelligence agents attacked the home of another supporter of the Mourning Mothers, Mrs Goli, 49, who is married with two children and arrested her. She was taken to section 209 as well. (Human Rights and Democracy Activists in Iran – Feb. 9, 2010)

Regime arrests another journalist in Tehran
Journalist Vahid Pour-Ostad was arrested last night. According to a person close to this journalist, he was arrested in his mother in law's home where he had gone for a party. Security forces went to his home after his arrest and confiscated some of his personal belonging including his laptop computer and all his personal writings. (Jaras Website – Feb. 9, 2010)
Reagime arrests two 'elements of sedition' in Isfahan
Two of the heads of the so-called green movement in a town in Isfahan who were busy mobilizing seditionist forces to send to Tehran for February 11 were arrested. (Iran state-run daily – Feb. 9, 2010)
Another journalist violently arrested in home
Ali Malihi, journalist, was arrested at 10 am in his home. His family described the agent's treatment (with Malihi) as unsuitable and violent. (Advar News – Feb. 9, 2010)

Three political activists arrested in Khoram Abad
Three political activists, Siamak Nad-Ali, Kaveh Azadi and Massoud Nasiri were arrested Saturday evening in a street in Khoram Abad by agents of the Lorestan Intelligence Agency. (Committee of Human Rights Reporters – Feb .9, 2010)

Iran arrests activists in Ahwaz
Last night security forces in Ahwaz arrested a number of nationalist-religious activists in this city.
These forces arrested Seyed Reza Tabatabayi and Hesam Kaviari in their homes and confiscated their computers and other personal belongings. (Neda'ye Sabz'e Azadi website – Feb. 8, 2010)


Several arrested before Iran national day marches: police
Iran's police chief said several people were arrested while making preparations for anti-government protests on Thursday, when the nation marks the 31st anniversary of the Islamic revolution.
Esmail Ahmadi Moghaddam said that some people 'intended to have deviant slogans' on Thursday when state-sponsored marches take place across Iran to mark the anniversary of the revolution which toppled the shah in 1979.
'There is good intelligence control on their behaviour... and some PEOPLE who were preparing equipment in this regard (making banners and posters) have been arrested,' Moghaddam told Fars news agency on Wednesday, without giving numbers or details of what preparations the detainees were making.
He also issued a warning that authorities will crack down on anyone staging demonstrations against the government or President Mahmoud Ahamdinejad -- the main target of protests since his disputed June re-election.
'If anyone wants to disrupt this glorious ceremony, they will be confronted by people and we too are fully prepared,' the police chief warned. (AFP - Feb 10, 2010)

Intelligence agents arrest two former political prisoners
According to reports, two former political prisoners Teimour Rezayian and Hossein Niakan were arrested and taken to an unknown location.
On Sunday February 7, Rezayian, 50 and Hossein Niakan who were jailed in the 80's were arrested after an attack by intelligence agents. This attack took place in the middle of the night and these agents conducted a search in their home and confiscated their personal belongings.
Their families have gone to Revolutionary Court and Evin Prison every day since their arrest in an attempt to get information on their whereabouts and condition but they are not given any clear answers. (Human Rights and Democracy Activists in Iran – Feb. 10, 2010)

20 people arrested in Shiraz
More than twenty people were arrested in Shiraz today. According to reports, people in Shiraz came out on the streets today like everyone in Iran to commemorate the 31st anniversary of the Revolution. Riot police and security forces attacked the protesters and arrested more than 20 people. (Jaras Website – Feb. 11, 2010)

Widespread clashes and arrests in Tehran
According to reports, there were widespread clashes between security forces and protesters in central Tehran which has led to dozens of arrests.
At about 11:30 am protesters came out on Central Tehran Streets like Sadeqieh, Enqelab Square, and Karegar Street to protest. Security forces attacked them with clubs and beat them. In these clashes, a number were injured and more than 20 people were arrested. (Human Rights and Democracy Activists in Iran – Feb. 11, 2010)

Iran arrests activists in Varamin
In the middle of the night on February 9, security forces with masks stormed the homes of 5 political activists in Varamin including the home of Mohammad Kogerlu, Zavareh, Esfandiari, Izadi and Taragheh Jafari and after conducting a search and confiscating their computer, arrested them all. (Neda-ye Sabz-e Azadi Website – Feb. 10, 2010)