Two Teachers Arrested in Amini’s Home Town

Two teachers from Mahsa Amini’s home town of Saqqez, Aziz Marzi and Azad Amini, were arrested on Friday afternoon, just a day before the anniversary of the young woman’s death in police custody.

The teachers are members of the Kurdistan Teachers’ Union. Security forces raided their homes and took them to an undisclosed location.

The arrests come amid a growing crackdown on dissent in Iran. The government has been targeting teachers, activists and journalists in recent months.

Fearing a flare-up of protests ahead of today’s anniversary of Amini’s death, authorities ramped up security measures in Kurdistan province, particularly Saqqez.

At least 292 protesters and civil activists have been arrested across the country in the past 50 days, according to human rights website HRANA.

It said the government has used a variety of methods to crack down on dissent, including exerting pressure on students, educational institutions, artists and the families of those who lost their loved ones during the months of protests sparked by Amini’s death.

Many cities in Iran have witnessed heightened security measures in advance of the September 16 anniversary.