Iranian security forces have arrested five close relatives of Iran's Expediency Council head Ayatollah Akbar Hashemi-Rafsanjani, including his daughter Faezeh Hashemi.

Last night, five members of the former president's family were arrested, Iran Newspaper on Network reported.

The five include Faezeh Hashemi and her daughter, as well as Hossein Mar'ashi's wife, daughter, and sister-in-law -- Mar'ashi is a cousin to Hashemi-Rafsanjani's wife.

The five have been reportedly arrested for having participated in an illegal rally "in [Tehran's] Azadi Avenue and inciting and encouraging rioters" on Saturday.

Other unconfirmed reports also indicate that another one of Hashemi-Rafsanjani's children was seen elsewhere in the capital participating in the unrest in "Toheed Square.”

He, however, fled the scene after being recognized, the reports added.

MJ/ZAP/MD