Extensive arrests of youths, especially Mojahedin, in different cities

Fearing disruption of the Assembly of Experts' election by popular protests and activities of the Mojahedin, the clerical regime's suppressive forces made widespread arrests among youths, particularly those supporting the Mojahedin, and former political p risoners in various cities, including Tehran, Kermanshah (western Iran), Karaj (west of Tehran) and Torbat-e Heydarieh (southern Iran).

The Interior Ministry's General Director for Security issued a statement last night, Friday, October 23, and announced that "the Mojahedin have taken measures to disrupt the third round of elections for the Assembly of Experts." He referred to the activit ies of the Mojahedin in the provinces of Yazd, Sistan and Baluchistan, and Bushehr.

The Bassij force of the Revolutionary Guards Corps in Bushehr issued a circular on October 23, announcing news of the arrest of a supporter of the Mojahedin by the Department of Intelligence in this city. It called on the Guards Corps and forces of the Ba ssij to take action to arrest the Mojahedin "who entered Kangan for distributing secret newsletters and sabotage in the city of Dair-o Kangan." The circular listed specifics of the said persons.

In recent days, the clerical regime deployed 300,000 Revolutionary Guards, forces of Bassij, State Security forces, and agent of the Intelligence Ministry to prevent sabotage of the elections and control the polling stations. A de facto martial law was im posed in Tehran and many other cities on Thursday and Friday.

The Ministry of the Interior also announced that 120,000 of the State Security forces had been deployed to "safeguard the security" of the elections. On Thursday, Brig. Gen. Mohammad Hejazi, Commander of the Bassij Force warned about "the possibility of t he activities of the Mojahedin" and placed Bassij forces on alert to "deal with any probable actions against the security of the election."

People's Mojahedin Organization of Iran
October 24, 1998

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