The Islamic Republic has arrested eight members of the Arab People’s Organization in southwestern Iran following days of anti-government protests in Khuzestan.
“In an intelligence operation together with the Unknown Soldiers of Imam Zaman and Ahavaz intelligence, eight members of the Arab People’s Organization who were involved in killing of three Ahvazi citizens were arrested,” Iran’s Central News Agency reports.
The detainees have not been so far identified.
Since last week, Iran’s southwestern Khuzestan province been the site of anti-government protests. The Arab population there has been demonstrating against a suspected government plan to change the proportion of the region’s Arab population. The government has denied the policy.
Shirin Ebadi and several human rights organizations have condemned Iran for discrimination and a crackdown on Arabs in Khuzestan.
