TEHRAN, Iran -- Authorities in a northern Iran province have arrested 450 people during more than 10 days of protests following a young Kurdish woman's death in morality policy custody, state media reported Monday.
More than 1,200 demonstrators, reformist activists and journalists have been arrested during the mostly night-time demonstrations across the country since unrest first broke out after Mahsa Amini's death was announced on September 16.
Amini, whose Kurdish first name was Jhina, was detained three days before that in Tehran for allegedly breaching rules mandating hijab headscarves and modest dress.
"During the troubles of the past days, 450 rioters have been arrested in Mazandaran," the northern province's chief prosecutor, Mohammad Karimi, was quoted as saying by official news agency IRNA.
They "have attacked government buildings and damaged public property in several parts of Mazandaran", he added.
Local media reported that protesters were shouting anti-regime slogans, and Karimi said they were led by "foreign anti-revolutionary agents".
On Saturday, authorities in the neighbouring Gilan province announced the arrest of 739 people, including 60 women.
The Fars news agency on Sunday reported the arrest of 88 protesters in the southern province of Hormozgan, quoting a local official.
Fars also reported arrests in Zanjan, a city in the northwest, Karaj, west of Tehran, and in Kerman in the southeast.
Iran's judiciary chief, Gholamhossein Mohseni Ejei, on Sunday "emphasised the need for decisive action without leniency" against the core instigators of the "riots", the judiciary’s Mizan Online website said.
At least 41 people have died since the unrest began, mostly protesters but including members of the Islamic republic's security forces, according to an official toll.
Photos published Monday by the Tasnim news agency showed protesters in Qom, a holy Shiite city about 150 kilometres (90 miles) south of the capital Tehran.
Security forces have released these images of "lead instigators", Tasnim reported, asking residents to "identify them and inform the authorities".