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| Iran arrests two prominent student activists | |
| 2008-07-15 | |
| TEHRAN (AFP) -- Iran has arrested two prominent student activists, the latest in a string of detentions following the anniversary of student protests nine years ago, the press reported on Monday. Mohammad Hashemi and Bahareh Hedayat were arrested and sent to the notorious Tehran prison of Evin on Sunday, the Etemad newspaper said. The two are members of the central council of the pro-reform student group The Office to Consolidate Unity. This has raised the number of students arrested throughout the country to around 18 since the anniversary of student protests on July 9, 1999, the Kargozaran newspaper said. The reason for the arrests was not made clear to the families of the pair, the report said. The other arrests have been made in the northeastern city of Mashhad, the southeastern Sistan-Baluchestan province and the province of Tehran. Groups of students hold small gatherings annually to commemorate July 9, which marks the most significant clash between the authorities and students in the Islamic republic. The riots were sparked when hardline vigilantes stormed student dormitories and the ensuing violence left dozens of students wounded and many arrested.
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| Posted by:Steve White |