London, Asharq al-Awsat — A source close to the Ahvazi opposition group Hizb Al-Tadamun (the Solidarity Party), which is fighting to obtain the rights of Iranian Arabs’ said in an exclusive statement to “Asharq al-Awsat” that the campaign of arrests launched by the Iranian security forces has included dozens of Arab students and academics and Arab female activists in several towns of Khuzestan, especially in Ahvaz.

It said the security forces arrested there the brother of the owner of the ” Arabistan ” internet website and no less than four Arab activist students at Ahvaz University. It added that a number of Arab officials in local departments were also arrested on the charge of conspiring in coordination with US and British military intelligence against the country’s unity.

Reports received from Ahvaz indicate that Khuzestan Governor Brigadier General Amir Hayati summoned special units from Tehran to confront the insurgency movement in Ahvaz and some Khuzestan towns in the past months. Rumors are meanwhile circulating that thousands of Iranian oil industry workers have decided to strike to protest the policy of repression against the Iranian Arabs.