Iran reports arrest of foreigners in connection with demonstrations

TEHRAN (WJC)–Iranian authorities have arrested several foreign nationals during the anti-government protests last week in which at least eight people were killed, Intelligence Minister Heydar Moslehi said in Tehran on Monday.

“Some of the detainees are foreign nationals pursuing propaganda and psychological warfare,” he claimed on state television, without specifying their nationalities. Iranian police are still holding 300 of the 500 people they arrested in Tehran on 27 December, when opposition supporters staged protests during a Shiite religious commemoration. Police said other security agencies had also detained protesters.

One of the foreigners arrested was an Iran-based Syrian journalist working for Dubai TV and a pro-government website ‘Rajanews’ said a “British citizen, who was carrying his passport, was arrested while attacking mourners… in central Tehran.” French researcher Clotilde Reiss was arrested in June 2009 and put on trial for allegedly taking part in protests that followed the disputed re-election of President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad. She was freed on bail in August and has since been staying at the French Embassy in Tehran awaiting the outcome of her trial.

Ahmadinejad and other Iranian leaders have repeatedly accused Britain, the United States and Israel of organizing the opposition protests.

*
Preceding provided by World Jewish Congress