The Iranian Writers' Association (IWA) has condemned the detention of a poet and translator, Milad Jannat, and demanded the release of all other political and ideological prisoners in the clergy-dominated Iran.

Intelligence agents stormed Mr. Jannat's residence on Thursday, July 23, ransacked his house, and detained him.

Hours after Mr. Jannat's arrest, the IWA said in a statement that the whereabouts of its member were unknown.

As people's protest is spreading across Iran, the IWA has noted, "the rulers have stepped up their crackdown on protesters, and the arrest of Milad Jannat is a continuation of the repression."

Furthermore, the IWA has argued that the Islamic Republic regime has grabbed the "opportunity" of coronavirus outbreak and imposed additional restrictions on holding protest gatherings", to demonstrate its authority by suppressing protesters, disregarding of the lives and well-being of the people.

The Iranian Writers Association is the first professional association of Iranian writers which was established in 1968. Although it supported the revolution of 1979 at first, members of the association many of who have leftist leanings have since the early years of the Revolution been subject to harassment and prosecution. Two members of the association -- Mohammad-Jafar Pouyandeh and Mohammad Mokhtari – were among the victims of the serial killings of intellectuals by Intelligence Ministry agents in 1998.

Meanwhile, the statement has warned the Islamic Republic and whoever is specifically behind Milad Jannat's detention that they are responsible for the life and well-being of the arrested author and poet amid the COVID-19 outbreak.