Protesters march on Iranian embassy
About 60 protesters descended on the Iranian embassy in Wellington yesterday over the regime’s ongoing crackdown on demonstrations.
Protesters called on the New Zealand Government to shut the embassy down, while half a dozen police officers formed a line in front of the building on Te Anau Rd, Hataitai.
Hundreds in Iran have died during the anti-regime protests, in which crowds demanded the removal of Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei.
A Stuff reporter at the scene said they were chanting for the ambassador to be expelled. An Iranian flag was torn up, while others trampled and spat on the remnants on the ground.
Iranian activist Mahsa Marks said they wanted the Iranian embassy to know it had ‘‘no place in New Zealand’’.
She felt the Government had been ‘‘very slow’’ and ‘‘weak’’ in its response, especially compared with other countries.
Though united in their feeling against the regime, the Iranian community in Aotearoa had been struggling as the affects of the protest continued to be felt.
Marks had lots of family and friends in Iran who left their homes not knowing if they would
be killed or detained, she said.
‘‘The Iranian community is really struggling with going to work,’’ she said. ‘‘We’re trying to get on with our lives but it’s really hard and it’s been going on for two months.’’
Farzad Parsi, who moved here from Iran about seven years ago, said Iran was a country ‘‘with everything’’ but the oppressive nature of the regime was holding it back. The Wellington resident had attended all other protests in the capital as he wanted to show support for those back home, who he described as ‘‘brave’’.
Windows into the four-storey embassy building in Hataitai were mostly covered by closed curtains and there were no officials visible.
The protesters moved to the grounds of Parliament about midday.