The Azerbaijani security forces have arrested 38 people in Ganja, Iranian news website Ghafghaz.ir reported, citing Azerbaijan’s online newspaper Fakt Xeber.
38 people participating in a mourning ceremony as part of Ashura events were surrounded and arrested by Azerbaijani security officers in Ganja, said Ghafghaz.ir.
However, participants were not intimidated either by the security forces or the arrests and continued the ceremony, said the Iranian website.
Ahead of this year’s Day of Ashura (commemoration of martyrdom of Imam Husayn), Azerbaijani security forces take unprecedented measures to ban mourning ceremonies, Iranian news website Arannews.ir reported recently.
Azerbaijani officials have issued an order threatening to expel those students who attend Day of Ashura events, said the Iranian website.
“Azerbaijani authorities began the preparatory works several months ago. Police and security officials searched houses of many religious figures looking for religious literature, and some of them were jailed for cooperation with Iran.”