Protests against acid attacks on women in Iran

WPI reports, Saturday, 25 October 2014

Report No. 2

 

The following reports have been received from the cities of Tehran, Isfahan and Shiraz.

 

Tehran

Women’s demo around Fatemi district, 1pm local time

The security forces had been deployed from around 12 noon in front of the Interior Ministry. A number of the regime’s vigilantes on motorbikes were trying to intimidate the protesters by hitting on the accelerator. The regime’s plainclothes officers had blocked the ways to the assembly point. At 1pm the security forces started attacking a number of women who were moving towards the Interior Ministry building. The slogans that were changed included: The acid thrower is a mercenary, we have no security! Acid throwing is a crime, fellow citizen give your support! There were scuffles between the protesters and the security forces, and the crowd dispersed.

Meanwhile, a number of students held a protest gathering from 10am at Revolution Square against both the acid attacks and the brutal execution early this morning of Reyhaneh Jabbari, the 26-year-old woman accused of killing a former Intelligence Ministry employee who had tried to rape her when she was 19. The security forces attacked the demonstration and a number of protesters were arrested.

 

Isfahan

Darvazeh Dowlat district, 1pm local time

Between 2 to 3 thousand people had gathered in the area. The security forces and plainclothes vigilantes had a heavy presence. By 3pm, despite the attacks by the security forces, people continued to chant slogans. The Special Unit of the security forces used tear gas to disperse the crowd. In the scuffles that followed a number of people were arrested.

Shiraz

1.30pm local time

People assembled around the Municipal Square and started chanting slogans. The roads leading to the Square had been blocked. A number of people were arrested.

Rasht

Students at the University of Rasht held a protest outside the Science Building. Around half an hour later the security forces attacked the protest, arresting two people. The crowd moved towards a nearby park, continuing their protest there.

Saqez

1.30pm local time

 

A large crowd gathered in protest at the acid attacks near the Governor’s office, chanting slogans against the acid attacks and also ‘death to the dictator’. There were scuffles with the security forces.

 

In the combined protests of today at least 10 people have been arrested.

 

Worker-communist Party of Iran

25 October 2014