Iranians visiting Armenia's capital, Yerevan, spoke on January 5 about the series of antigovernment protests across Iran in the past week. Interviews by RFE/RL's Armenian Service.
Prominent Reformists Reject Claims Of Foreign Interference In Protests
Story by RFE/RL's Radio Farda:
Following repeated claims by Iranian officials that recent protests have been organized or instigated by foreigners, sixteen prominent reformist figures in Iran have issued a statement rejecting the claim.
In the January 6 statement the activists say, “Despite the fact the enemies of the country always try to take advantage of such events, but we should know that any kind of foreign interference will not be possible without the existence of internal conditions”.
The signatories of the statement also maintain that focus on external interference, “in addition to being an insult to the people, leads to negligence toward the real causes of the protests” and an effective response to them.
At the same time these reformists have strongly condemned “American interference” and “especially that of its president” in the internal affairs of Iran.
Most of the signatories are former officials or members of parliament from the time of President Mohammad Khatami, who tried to institute reforms in the late 1990s, but was boxed in by the Supreme Leader ayatollah Ali Khamenei and his conservative followers. Almost all have been arrested and imprisoned since then or have politically motivated legal cases pending.
President Hassan Rouhani, Ali Shamkhani, Secretary of Supreme National Security Council and other officials have accused the U.S., Israel and Saudi Arabia of organizing or instigating the current protests.
Israel has rejected interference in Iran’s internal affairs and Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has called Rouhani’s accusation “a lie and laughable”.
The protests have engulfed more than 101 cities and towns in Iran, which makes the claims of foreign instigation far-fetched.
The statement of reformists says that although economic condition played a role in protests, but more democracy, rule of law and accountability are needed to rescue the economy.
This video appears to show security forces on motorcycles in the city of Khorramabad, capital of Lorestan Province, where antigovernment protesters have staged rallies for days.
AFP: Dutch authorities arrest eight protesters for attacking Iranian embassy
Dutch police said eight people have been detained in The Hague after they broke into the Iranian embassy and threw projectiles at the building.
The suspects, arrested on January 5, are accused of a variety of offences including sedition, disrupting public order, attempted arson and unauthorised entry, police spokeswoman Hilda Vijverberg said.
Footage on public broadcaster NOS shows a group of men shouting "Death to the Islamic Republic" in Farsi, climbing the barrier into the embassy compound and hurling what were probably eggs or pebbles at the building.
Dozens of protesters staged demonstrations in The Hague and Amsterdam against the Iranian government earlier this week.
Protest Outside Evin Prison
People are protesting today outside of Tehran's notorious Evin prison. Among the protesters are parents whose children have been detained following the government's crackdown on antigovernment protests. Some parents have been protesting for days and have erected tents outside the prison.
Dozens of people protest outside the Iranian embassy in London.
People are holding a rally in the Austrian capital, Vienna, in support of the antigovernment protesters in Iran.
Students' Names Released
The U.S.-based United For Iran human rights organization has released the names of Iranian students arrested in recent days.
Special Parliamentary Session
Iran's parliament to scheduled to hold a special session to look into the causes of the antigovernment protests.
The interior minister, the head of intelligence, and the security council chief are all expected to attend, reports ISNA. The session is scheduled for January 7.