Iranian Police Clash With Women's Day Protesters

The protest in Tehran today (ISNA) March 8, 2007 (RFE/RL) -- Police in Tehran today clashed with rights activists who gathered in front of the Iranian parliament to mark International Women's Day.

Reports say the crowd -- which included students and women -- was attacked by police with batons.
One organizer of the demonstration, Fatemeh Govarayi, told Radio Farda that several people were injured.

Police forces "were dispersing the crowd violently," Govarayi said. "We were among the people who were beaten. [One woman's] leg was seriously injured. Some of the [student activists] also were seriously injured."

Govarayi was among more than 30 women's rights activists who were arrested in Tehran on March 4 during a peaceful protest -- a crackdown that has raised concerns in the United Nations and among international human rights groups.

All but three of those women have since been released.

Meanwhile, reports say about 3,000 women teachers took part in a Tehran demonstration today to protest low salaries and poor working conditions. Those demonstrators criticized Iranian officials, saying they were indifferent to their plight.

It was the third time in recent days that Iranian teachers have staged a protest. Radio Farda reports that about 20 prominent figures of Iran's teachers' movement were detained by authorities overnight. Their whereabouts remain unknown.