Iran claims busted US-funded protest network on Mahsa Amini anniversary
Tehran, Sep 7 (EFE).- Iran has claimed to have busted a United States-financed network that planned protests on the first death anniversary of Kurdish woman Mahsa Amini, whose demise in a police custody on Sep.16 last year sparked deadly demonstrations in the Islamic Republic.
“Members of the group were networking women and planning riots,” state-run Irna news agency reported, citing Iran’s intelligence service sources.
They trained “elements inside and outside Iran” by holding free online courses for civil and women activists.
The network was led by “one of foreign-based political elements,” the intelligence ministry said.
The ministry did not specify the number of the detained or those identified.
The network held its workshop at SOAS University of London in July, a ministry press statement said.
“A reporter of a hostile media outlet” held the workshop for foreign-based women activists, the statement said.
The statement said the network planned an “online confidential meeting” on Sep.7 and 14 for a group of civil and women activists.
Amini died after she was arrested by the so-called morality police for not wearing her hijab properly.
Her death sparked months-long widespread protests, with people calling for the end of the Islamic Republic.
Some 500 people lost their lives in demonstrations, and thousands were arrested.
The authorities have tightened the vigil in anticipation of renewed unrest on the first anniversary of the Kurdish woman’s death. EFE
jlr-ssk
