Iranian justice announced Tuesday the arrest in two months of “40 foreigners” accused of involvement in the “riots” in Iran, a country shaken by demonstrations since the death of Mahsa Amini.
The 22-year-old Iranian Kurd died on September 16, three days after she was arrested by vice police who accused her of breaking the strict dress code for women in the Islamic Republic of Iran.
The authorities denounce the protests triggered since his death as “riots” encouraged by the West and have arrested thousands of people.
“Forty foreign nationals implicated in the recent riots have been arrested,” said the spokesman for the Judiciary, Massoud Sétayechi.
He did not specify their nationality or when or where they were arrested.
In early October, the Iranian authorities announced the arrest of nine foreigners, notably from Poland, Italy and France, and accused of links with the protest movement.
Quoted by the Judicial Authority agency, Mizan online, Mr. Sétayechi also indicated that “verdicts against 2,432 people” accused of involvement in the “riots” had been pronounced so far in Iran.
He did not specify the convictions but the sentences handed down for all these defendants can be appealed to the Supreme Court.
The Revolutionary Court in Tehran has already sentenced to death six defendants found guilty of being “mohareb” (“enemy of God” in Persian) or for “corruption on earth”, in connection with the demonstrations in Iran.