Iran releases head of Reform Front coalition, ISNA reports

DUBAI, Feb ‌13 (Reuters) - Iran ​on ​Friday released on bail three prominent reformist figures arrested ‌last week amid a sweeping ⁠government crackdown on dissent, one of ‌their lawyers told the ‌semi-official ISNA news agency.

Lawyer Hojjat Kermani said the freed activists included ​Azar Mansouri, head of the moderate Reform Front coalition, along ⁠with Javad Emam and Ebrahim Asgharzadeh. He ​said he was not told what charges his clients may face.

The ​releases come as ‌authorities try to quell the country's bloodiest unrest since ⁠the 1979 Islamic Revolution through a campaign of mass arrests and ⁠intimidation.

The U.S.-based rights group HRANA said about ​53,000 people have so far been arrested, and the total number of killed had ‌reached 7,008, including 6,509 protesters. Reuters could not independently ‌verify the figures, and Iranian ⁠officials could ‌not immediately be ​reached for comment.

(Reporting by Dubai newsroom; Editing by Ethan ‌Smith)

---

Serious News for Serious Traders! Try StreetInsider.com Premium Free!

---

You May Also Be Interested In

• Israel's election will be held on October 27, coalition head says
• About 300 people evacuated in Paris suburb due to 'suspicious' car near synagogue
• India's Tata Consultancy Services plans up to 8,900 AI deployment engineers, seeks AI acquisitions