Iran Judiciary Indicts French and Belgian Nationals for Involvement in 'Anti-Government Protests'

Last September in Tehran, Iran, protesters denouncing the suspicious death of Amini clashed with the police. [Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Lee Chun-hee] The Iranian judiciary announced that it has indicted three foreigners involved in anti-government protests.

According to local media on the 3rd (local time), Masoud Setayesh, spokesperson for the Iranian judiciary, stated at a press conference that two French nationals and one Belgian national were indicted on charges of espionage and inciting social unrest. He explained, "These individuals are foreigners recently involved in anti-government riots," adding, "They were arrested at different locations and face different charges."

The Iranian judiciary explained that the two French nationals were engaged in spy activities related to the protests, while the Belgian national is accused of inciting anti-government protests last November.

Previously, the Iranian judiciary revealed that it had arrested and was investigating over 40 foreigners in connection with the anti-government protests. The nationalities of the arrested foreigners are reported to include the United States, the United Kingdom, France, Austria, Russia, and Afghanistan.

Iranian authorities claim that Western powers, including the United States, are organizing and inciting protests to destabilize Iranian society.

Currently, protests continue in Iran sparked by the Amini incident, in which Mahsa Amini was arrested for improperly wearing a hijab and died under suspicious circumstances at a police station. Amini was detained by the Guidance Patrol in downtown Tehran last September for not properly wearing her hijab. She suddenly collapsed while being interrogated at the police station, was transferred to a hospital, but ultimately passed away a few days later.