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Fresh Protests Over Iran's Lake Orumieh


Lake Orumieh (Urmia), located near Iran's border with Turkey, has been a flash point for previous protests.
Lake Orumieh (Urmia), located near Iran's border with Turkey, has been a flash point for previous protests.
Police in the Iranian city of Orumieh have cracked down on protesters demonstrating against the continued drying up of neighboring Lake Orumieh, according to BBC Persian reports.

Videos uploaded to YouTube show large groups of people chanting slogans including, "Whoever stands aside and doesn't do anything is a coward."

The authenticity of the videos cannot be independently verified.

Eyewitnesses told the BBC that police arrested "dozens" of protesters and beat several others with batons.

In September, Iranians took to the streets of Orumieh to protest the dire condition of the lake.

Lake Orumieh, a salt lake located in Iran's East Azerbaijan and West Azerbaijan provinces, is drying up and turning into a salt marsh.

WATCH: User-generated YouTube video of protests in Orumieh





Late last year, RFE/RL photographer Abbas Atilay traveled to Orumieh to photograph the lake.


We will keep this post updated throughout the day. If any reader has more information -- photos, videos, eyewitness accounts -- please mention us on Twitter (@RFERL or @RadioFarda_) or send an e-mail to petersonz@rferl.org (Azǝrbaycanca materiallar da qǝbul olunur; لطفا نظرات خود را هم به زبان فارسی).

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Written by RFE/RL editors and correspondents, Transmission serves up news, comment, and the odd silly dictator story. While our primary concern is with foreign policy, Transmission is also a place for the ideas -- some serious, some irreverent -- that bubble up from our bureaus. The name recognizes RFE/RL's role as a surrogate broadcaster to places without free media. You can write us at transmission+rferl.org

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