Reports are coming out of Tehran that ex-Iranian president Mahmoud Ahmadinejad has been arrested for contributing to widespread unrest in the country that has seen at least 22 killed.
Allegations were published Saturday by the London-based media outlet Al-Quds Al-Arabi citing what they termed « reliable sources in Tehran. »
Ahmadinejad, while visiting the western Iranian city of Bushehr on December 28, was quoted by the news outlet stating that « Some of the current [Iranian] leaders live detached from the problems and concerns of the people, and do not know anything about the reality of society, » cited by the Times of Israel.
The former Middle Eastern leader — in office 2005-2013 — is alleged by the newspaper to have implied that the current administration in Tehran is a government of « mismanagement » and that current Iranian President Hassan Rouhani’s officials « believe that they own the land and that the people are an ignorant society, » according to Timesofisrael.com.
A quick response by Rouhani’s government has seen hundreds of protesters arrested and the creation of well-attended pro-government rallies in Tehran and other cities.
Government officials in Tehran have blamed the unrest on foreign meddling, particularly on US, Saudi Arabian, and Israeli actors.
