Teaching Comparative

Iranian complications

Mixed in with the news of local elections in Iran came reports last week of a student protest during a visit by President Ahmadinejad to a Tehran university. Now the Guardian (UK) is reporting more details and that some protesters are in hiding.

From the Boston Globe, 11 December 2006:
Students try to disrupt leader's talk

"Dozens of Iranian students burned pictures of President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad and threw firecrackers in an effort to disrupt his speech at a university yesterday, a presidential office spokesman said..."

The Iran Press Service reported:
"While the spokesman claimed '50 to 60 students were involved', eyewitnesses said hundreds of students chanted 'Death to the dictator' as basiji students and forces as well as units of presidential guards clashed with anti-Ahmadi Nezhad students at the Amir Kabir University in Tehran. At least two students had been wounded and taken to hospital, sources said..."

and UPI reported:
Iran students rebel over Holocaust denial

"Scores of students at Amirkabir University in Tehran marched Monday as Ahmadinejad opened a conference of Holocaust deniers for some 70 people. A Times of London correspondent said the students burned pictures of Ahmadinejad and called the conference 'shameful.'

"One unidentified student told the newspaper the gathering 'has brought to our country Nazis and racists from around the world.'

"In response, Ahmadinejad called the protesters 'Americanized' and said he was 'prepared to be burned in the path of true freedom, independence and justice.'..."

From the Guardian 17 December 2006:
Iranian students hide in fear for lives after venting fury at Ahmadinejad

"· President's supporters vow revenge on protesters
"· Activists forecast harsher crackdown on dissent

"Iranian student activists who staged an angry protest against President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad last week have gone into hiding in fear for their lives after his supporters threatened them with revenge... Vigilantes from the militant Ansar-e Hezbollah group have been searching for them...

"The disclosures came yesterday as early returns from Friday's council elections indicated that Mr Ahmadinejad's hardline supporters had failed in their attempt to take control of several key local authorities. Turnout was estimated at about 60% after reformers urged liberal-minded electors to vote in large numbers to protest against the government's policies...

"Students now fear an even fiercer crackdown. 'We believe [the authorities] will react much worse than before,' said Armin Salmasi, 26, a leading activist. 'We are already under constant surveillance. The student movement in Iran is going to be driven underground - just like it was before the revolution.'"

posted by Ken Wedding @ 10:06 AM