Belgium warns its nationals to leave Iran amid arrests

People block an intersection during a protest to mark 40 days since the death in custody of 22-year-old Mahsa Amini. Belgium is urging its nationals to leave Iran and warns that they face the risk of arrest, arbitrary detention or unfair trial (AP/PA)

Belgium is urging its nationals to leave Iran, warning that they face the risk of arbitrary arrest or unfair trial, after a detained aid worker was reportedly sentenced to 28 years in prison there last week.

Iran has been rocked by protests since the September 16 death of 22-year-old Mahsa Amini, who died after being detained by the morality police. The protests have since morphed into one of the most serious challenges to the theocracy installed by the 1979 Islamic Revolution.