According to the head of the judiciary, approximately 22,000 people were arrested during the recent protests in Iran.

Gholamhossein Mhseni Ejehi was quoted by the state-run IRNA news agency as having announced the figure on Monday.

He claimed that 82,656 prisoners were released and those who were facing charges were pardoned. Some 22,000 people were arrested during the demonstrations.

Mr Ejehi stated that the pardoned people had not committed theft or other violent crimes.

Advertisement

Reports in the past suggested that Supreme Leader Ayatollah Muhammad Khamenei might pardon many of those who were involved in demonstrations leading up to the Muslim holy fasting month Ramadan.

After being detained by the country’s morality police, the murder of 22-year old MahsaAmini sparked months of protests.

An announcement by the judiciary suggests that Iran’s Theocracy is now secure enough to acknowledge the scale of unrest. This was one of the greatest challenges to the establishment in the aftermath of 1979 Islamic Revolution.

Hundreds of thousands more were also held during the purges that followed revolution.

Continue reading:

Iran: Protests erupt over suspected poisoning schoolgirls

Iran International editor: Tehran threatens ‘getting out hand’ after UK TV station is forced to close

Many are still upset as the country struggles to recover from the collapsed rial currency and economic woes.

Iran admitted last month that “tens and thousands” were detained during the protests. Mr Ejehi’s Monday announcement offered an even higher number than activists had previously stated.

Subscribe to Sky News Daily, where you can get your podcasts

Human Rights Activists in Iran, a group that monitors the crackdown on Iran’s rights, reported that over 19,700 people were detained during the protests.

According to the group, at least 530 people were killed when authorities violently crushed demonstrations.