Iranians gathered for another day of protests in cities around the nation Friday as people voiced their displeasure with the country's economy and government policies.
Iran's Fars news agency said about 300 people gathered in the western city of Kermanshah, where an earthquake killed 600 residents in November. The demonstrators were reportedly calling for government attention to their plight, as well as for the government to free its political prisoners. Police eventually broke up the protest, Fars said.
In Tehran, government security official Mohsen Hamedani told reporters that fewer than 50 people gathered for a protest at a public square Friday. He said a few of them were "temporarily arrested" after they refused to leave when police broke up the demonstration.
Iran has an unemployment rate of 12.4 percent, a stagnant economy and rampant inflation.
Demonstrators have also spoken out against Iranian military personnel being deployed outside the country, particularly in Syria, for long periods of time.
Iran's senior vice president, Eshaq Jahangiri, said Friday that some political factions were using the economy as an excuse to criticize the government. He said those who had started the protests might not be able to control the movement.
The anti-government protests came a day before Saturday's anniversary of massive pro-government rallies staged in 2009, following a disputed presidential election and months of unrest.
Hasan Heidari, head of Iran's Revolutionary Court of Mashhad, told Fars that 52 protesters were arrested in the city Thursday for gathering illegally.
Hundreds of Iranians had taken to the streets of Mashhad, the country's second-largest city, to protest rising prices and condemn the government.
Videos posted online showed protesters chanting "Death to [President Hassan] Rouhani" and "Death to the dictator." Police were shown dispersing the crowds with water cannons and tear gas.
The semiofficial Ilna news agency reported protests in other cities, including Neyshabour, Kashmar, Yazd and Shahroud.
Mashhad Governor Mohammad Rahim Norouzian told the state-run IRNA news agency that there had been an illegal "No to high prices'' rally in the city. But he said the police dealt with it with "great tolerance" and arrested only those who intended to destroy public property.
The holy Shiite Imam Reza shrine is located in Mashhad.
Protesters also chanted "Leave Syria, think about us" in direct condemnation of Tehran's involvement in Syria's civil war.
Read More Protesters in Iran Criticize Economy, Military Involvement in Syria : http://ift.tt/2CnsQDl
No comments:
Post a Comment