Most of Arrested Protestors Released

Iran's interior minister said most of the people arrested during December's anti-government demonstrations have been freed but around 300 remain in custody, awaiting trial. "Less than 300 people who committed a crime during the recent unrest remain detained and their cases are undergoing the judicial process," Abdolreza Rahmani Fazli was quoted as saying by Tasnim News Agency. "Only nine people are being held in detention in Tehran, none of whom are students," he added. Economic demonstrations first erupted in the northeastern city of Mashhad on December 28, before turning violent and spreading to dozens more cities. The protestors were particularly enraged by President Hassan Rouhani's failure to deliver on an electoral promise to tackle high unemployment and curb rampant corruption. Days after the week-long demonstrations that left 25 people dead from both the protestors and security forces were put out, lawmaker Mahmoud Sadeqi said a total of 3,700 protestors had been arrested by different security bodies. Later a police spokesperson said most of those arrested had been released on bail but riot leaders were still in detention and would face severe punishment.