World rallies behind Iranian protesters

Citizens of France, Germany, Italy, Netherlands, Poland among those held

Iranians based abroad and their supporters gathered in cities around the world yesterday in solidarity with protests sparked by the death of Mahsa Amini in the custody of the country’s notorious morality police.

A wave of street violence has rocked Iran since Amini, a 22-year-old Iranian Kurd, died days after her arrest by the morality police for allegedly failing to observe the strict dress code for women.

Protests were held across Iran for a 15th consecutive night on Friday, despite a bloody crackdown that a rights group says has claimed more than 80 lives.

“Woman, life, freedom” and “Death to the dictator”, they chanted in the streets of Amini’s hometown of Saqqez, in Kurdistan province.

Riot police massed yesterday at major intersections in Tehran, amid reports of demonstrations at universities to seek the release of arrested students.

Solidarity events

Demonstrations in support of the protests are being held meanwhile in 159 cities across the globe – from Auckland to New York and Seoul to Zurich, according to the Iranians for Justice and Human Rights group.

“Be our voice,” was the catchcry of a protest in the Australian city of Brisbane. In Tokyo, demonstrators waved pictures of Amini and other women who defiantly burned their headscarves and cut their hair during the protests.

Security forces used live ammunition and tear gas on Friday to try to disperse demonstrations in various cities and towns across the country.

Iran’s intelligence ministry said “nine foreign nationals”, including from France, Germany, Italy, the Netherlands and Poland, were arrested “at or behind the scene of riots”, along with 256 members of outlawed opposition groups.