Monday, December 10, 2007

Students Riot In Iran

Despite clampdowns on rioting in Iran against the regime led by the Mullahs and Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, students stormed Tehran University, the largest and one of the oldest Universities in Iran, staged a protest on Sunday to demand the release of fellow students who have been jailed in recent months.

Signs that read "Live Free or Die" were held and stones were thrown at police as the students crashed the gates of Tehran University, other slogans included "No war, no fascism" and "Women must decide their fate, not the state."

Iranian press news has more photos of the protest and word is that there were many arrests and that Professors have joined in to criticize Ahmadinejad for clamping down on dissent on campuses.

It is also being reported that 'Human Rights Activists in Iran' that after breaking through the 16th Azar gate of the Tehran University , students from other universities and polytechnics joined Tehran University students. They sang 'Yare Dabestani' (school mate) song which has now become a revolutionary song whilst moving towards the engineering faculty of the University where they held a free tribune ceremony. 7 speakers from different political backgrounds and representations displayed an unprecedented and exciting united front and solidarity.

The New York Times quotes a witness that says there were approximately 1,500 demonstrators and that Advar News, a Web site run by former students, reported Sunday that one advocate, Ali Nikoonesbati, who was arrested last month, had been released.

In related news, The Telegraph is reporting that the recent sanctions against Iran are having the desired effect and their banks are on the brink of collapse, because of the boycott by European, Japanese and American banks its manufacturers are facing severe difficulties as a crippling shortage of equipment and materials from overseas suppliers has resulted in a dramatic fall in production.

A British official working closely with the UN says "There is no doubt that the Iranian regime is now paying the price in economic terms of its defiance of the international community."

Despite recent public statements by President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad that sanctions by America and the UN "are not working", a confidential report submitted to the Iranian parliament said that continued economic isolation was having dire consequences.

The whole point of sanctions is to force Iran to comply with their international obligations and stop enriching uranium which can be used to produce nuclear weapons and it appears the sanctions are starting to work.

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