Iranian Citizens Arrested Today in Tehran (2/14/2012)

Persian2English – Since 3:00pm today, regime security agents have positioned military and security agents around main city streets and squares in Tehran. The arrests of numerous citizens has been reported. The Associated French Press announced that Iranian regime agents have not permitted AFP journalists and reporters to move about the city to observe the events in the streets today.

Human Rights Activists News Agency in Iran (HRANA) has received reports from Tehran of the arrest of citizens in the Tajrish and Parkway areas and on Jamalzadeh and Vali Asr streets.

Witnesses on Jamalzadeh Street reported the arrest of a group of citizens by military agents. The citizens were forced in a van by the security agents then transferred to an undisclosed location. The reason for the arrests of these citizens is not known however witnesses reported that the presence of people on Jamalzadeh Street was widespread.

Other witness reports indicate a heavy security presence at Tajrish Square and Parkway. The regime forces reportedly performed physical inspections. Numerous arrests were also reported.

Reports indicate a crowd of citizens who had gathered at Vali Asr Square were physically assaulted by the Iranian regime’s security agents. Numerous people were reportedly arrested.

Witnesses report that some citizens were released from detention after they were interrogated.

According to HRANA, the MTC Irancell operator was unreachable in the central areas of Tehran and some of the subway (metro) lines were closed by security agents.

Earlier today HRA News Agency reported that main city streets and squares in Tehran, including Azadi, Enqelab, Ferdowsi, Imam Hussein, Vali Asr, and North Kargar has been occupied with security forces on feet or motorbikes.

According to the reports, plainclothes agents entered shopping centers and asked store owners to close their business operation early for the day.

Additionally, the front entrance of the University of Tehran has reportedly been under the heavy control of regime security agents who are not allowing people to stand around. Anyone who has stood around the University of Tehran has reportedly been quickly given a warning.

Human Rights Activists News Agency (HRANA) has also reported a strong security presence in Isfahan, Kermanshah, and Ahvaz. On specific streets in Isfahan, there were four security and military agents positioned every 30 meters.

The presence of security forces in these three cities is decreasing as the night arrives.

February 14th is now officially recognized as a significant day in Iran as we enter the first anniversary of last year’s pro-democracy protests. Last year on February 14th, Iranian citizens headed to the streets to protest against dictatorship. Earlier that day, Mir Hossein Mousavi and Mehdi Karroubi, two leaders of Iran’s opposition, were placed under house arrest along with their wives by Iranian regime authorities.

Human rights activists believe the Iranian regime is fearful of widespread pro-democracy protests thus it takes drastic measures to violently suppress and scare Iranian citizens.