Student protests at Tehran Open University
were confronted with violence on Tuesday October 12.
Amir Kabir Newsletter reported
2000 people participated in today's protests. Reportedly, Basij forces attacked
the students with pepper spray, tear gas and truncheons.
The engineering students of the Open University expressed their protests to the
disputed June elections and the consequent Mahmoud Ahmadinejad government with
chants of "death to the dictator!" and "Government risen from a coup; Resign,
Resign!"
Last Tuesday also 1500 students staged a similar protest chanting
anti-government slogans.
In the past months, Tehran, Khajeh Nasireddin-e Toosi, Elm-o San-at, Sharif and
Shiraz Universities were witness to large student gatherings in protest of the
post-election events.
The Islamic Association of Democracy-seeking
students of Tehran and Medical Sciences Universities issued a statement today
announcing: "Until the return of the republic and freedom, we will continue our
civil protests."
Masses of Iranians along with opposition leaders claim the June presidential
elections were rigged to secure Mahmoud Ahmadinejad's victory. Massive
demonstrations and protests were confronted with fierce violence from government
armed forces especially the Basij militia which resulted in tens of deaths.
While the mass protests ceased following the
campaign of mass arrests, on September 18, once more people staged a mass
demonstration to confirm their continued demands for justice and transparency in
the elections.
Since the opening of the universities three weeks ago, students have carried the
torch of protests, reminding the authorities that the election protests still
persist.
