Sep. 15 – Iran’s government said it would not tolerate what it called “signs of instability,” just days ahead of the one year anniversary of Mahsa Jina Amini’s death. Officials have arrested dozens of people ahead of the anniversary including Amini’s father and uncle.
Amini was killed while in police custody on Sept. 16, for allegedly failing to wear her hijab according to the law in Iran.
Her death triggered nationwide anti-government protests, which led to the deaths of more than 500 people, including at least 58 children. The regime blamed “foreign interference” for the demonstrations.
The Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps supplied arms to current and former members in Kurdistan province’s capital Saghez, ahead of any potential unrest next week, according to the Norway-based human rights organization Hengaw.
The province is home to some of the poorest areas in Iran, which houses several ethnic minority groups routinely persecuted by the regime.
The area is also home to Iranian Kurdish opposition groups, many of which advocate for an independent Kurdish state free from Iranian governance.
And the US and Iran have agreed a prisoner swap deal, which includes the release of 5 US citizens in exchange for the release of 5 Iranians held in US custody and the unfreezing of $6 billion in Iranian oil revenue.
The US State department said the deal included detained American citizens Siamak Namazi, Emad Sharqi, and Morad Tahbaz. Two of the hostages asked not to be identified.
The deal was criticized by Republican lawmakers who said the agreed funds were a form of sanctions relief, which could be used to fund aggressive policies in the Middle East.
