Iranian authorities announce arrest of 100 "terrorists"

Commander Hossein Hamadani

Iran Revolutionary Guard Commander, Hossein Hamadani told ILNA news agency that security forces arrested about 100 members of dissident groups on February 11. He added that the detainees were members of People’s Mojahedin Organization and Association of Iranian Monarchist and intended to carry out “bombings and assassinations” on this day.

The judiciary has already executed three individuals which they claim were connected with the Association of Iranian Monarchists.

February 11 is the most significant date in Iran’s Revolutionary calendar as it marks the victory of the 1979 Revolution when the monarchy was ousted and the Islamic Republic established. This year election protesters, who have been protesting the alleged fraudulent victory of Mahmoud Ahmadinejad in the June presidential elections, had announced that they would also stage their own march on this day to express their demands.

Before February 11, authorities had announced that no special security measures were being considered for the day. However, on the day of the demonstration, election protesters were faced with immediate confrontation of security forces and impeded from coming together.

Commander Hamadani confirmed that “security and order police” were widely present on the streets of Tehran on this day but they had made great efforts not to turn “Tehran in army barracks.”

Opposition leader Mehdi Karroubi issued a statement following the demonstrations condemning the security-laden atmosphere of the city which had “turned the city into army barracks.”

Commander Hamadani emphasized that “it was necessary for the police to be present in the streets” on that day.

The opposition maintains that the security forces and measures used on February 11 were unprecedented.

Commander Hamadani dismissed the opposition criticisms and maintained that even in European countries when there are international meetings, presence of the police is widespread across the city.

He added: “On December 27, people called on us to restore the city’s safety and security. We are paid by the people and we are their servants. We are bound by our duty to establish security and if we fail in our duties, they have the right to prosecute us.”

On December 28 which coincided this year with Ashura Day, a significant date on the Shiite calendar, election protesters took to the streets in tens of thousands to express their demands for election transparency and citizen rights. Security forces clashed fiercely with demonstrators on that day which resulted in at least eight deaths.