The U.S. Calls for the Release of All Political Prisoners and Detainees from Recent Protests

On Wednesday, January 10, the White House expressed concern over the situation of thousands of individuals detained during recent protests in Iran, stating that the U.S. will not remain silent regarding the suppression of the basic rights of the Iranian people by the country's 'dictatorial' government. The White House statement noted that the Trump administration is deeply worried about reports of the detention of thousands during last week's peaceful demonstrations by the Iranian government. Additionally, reports of torture and deaths of detainees in prison have intensified concerns in this regard. The White House called for the immediate release of all political prisoners, including those detained during the recent protests. Tehran and various cities in Iran witnessed a week of protests against the economic situation and government policies. In these protests, harsh slogans were directed against the leaders and domestic and regional policies of the Islamic Republic, with over 3,700 people detained and at least 22 deaths confirmed. Iranian officials have also confirmed the deaths of at least two recent detainees in prisons in Tehran and Arak. The White House emphasized that it will not remain silent regarding the actions of the Iranian dictatorial government in suppressing the basic rights of the citizens of this country and will hold Iranian leaders accountable for any violations of these rights. The statement added that the protesters in Iran expressed their legitimate grievances, including demands for an end to repression, corruption, and the waste of national resources in military adventures. It was stated that the Iranian government claims to support democracy, but when the people of this country express their desire for a better life and an end to injustice, this regime reveals its brutal nature. In recent days, reports of several 'suicides' in Iranian prisons following last week's nationwide protests have emerged, and Amnesty International has called for 'immediate investigations' into this matter. One day after the confirmation of the death of Sina Ghanbari, a participant in the recent protests in Iran, the Iran Human Rights Campaign reported on Tuesday the death of 'Vahid Heydari in Arak detention center.' Earlier, Mahmoud Sadeghi, a member of parliament from Tehran, tweeted on Monday confirming the death of Sina Ghanbari, one of the detainees from the recent protests in Evin prison, warning of the possibility of a repeat of 'Kahrizak II.' Mohsen Rouhalamini and many other protesters against the results of the 2009 presidential election were transferred to the Kahrizak detention center, which reportedly had very poor conditions. According to official reports from the Iranian government, in this detention center, in addition to Mohsen Rouhalamini, at least two others named Amir Javadi Far and Mohammad Kamrani were killed.