Iran security forces enter schools to arrest children: reports
Iranian children joining anti-government protests are being arrested at their schools as security forces arrive in unmarked vehicles to take away students, according to multiple social media reports.
Iran closed all schools and educational institutions in Iranian Kurdistan over the weekend, as students in the region continue to protest against the cleric-dominated government.
Several videos and images have emerged on Twitter showing Iranian police arriving at schools to arrest children. It follows large-scale protests at schools and universities in the country, particularly involving girls and young women.
Khosro Kalbasi Isfahani, a journalist for BBC Monitoring, shared a video originally posted by 1500tasvir saying: "Security forces today (Oct9) attacked multiple schools in Iran trying to arrest schoolgirls."
Security forces today (Oct9) attacked multiple schools in Iran trying to arrest schoolgirls: @1500tasvir. Schools have turned into a hotbed of protests. Rights group @iranhr: 185 protestors been killed, 19 children among them. #مهسا_امینی pic.twitter.com/vudGGWvqQm
— Khosro Kalbasi Isfahani (@KhosroKalbasi) October 9, 2022
Another user who goes by the name Ariya shared an image of an unmarked white van near what appears to be a volleyball court at a school.
"The arrival of ambulances without license plates of the repressive forces of the terrorist regime of the Islamic Republic in #Iran to schools to arrest protesting students," the tweet read.
The arrival of ambulances without license plates of the repressive forces of the terrorist regime of the Islamic Republic in #Iran to schools to arrest protesting students.
— Ariya (@A_since2016) October 9, 2022
Sunday, October 9#IranRevolution #ReturnToMonarchy4iran pic.twitter.com/NX2CYcXF4d
Reza Yunesi, an associate professor at Uppsala University in Sweden shared a video from a school in Pardis, a suburb of Tehran, showing Iranian forces trying to detain children.
Iran regime thugs tried to arrest several school kids from Afarinesh school in Pardis, today October 9th. #IranRevolution #مهسا_امينى pic.twitter.com/c9mX7SYtal
— Reza Younesi رضا يونسى (@RezaYounesi) October 9, 2022
The protests began when Iranian-Kurdish 22-year-old Jina Amini - known as Mahsa as Iran bans Kurdish names - died after being arrested by the so-called 'morality police' for allegedly wearing her headscarf 'improperly'.
The ensuing protests have engulfed the nation, with Iranian women at the forefront chanting slogans of "women, life, freedom".
Security forces have brutally cracked down on the demonstrations, with a rights group saying on Sunday that 185 people, including 19 children, have been killed by police and pro-government militias.