Council for a Community of Democracies

Iranian Student Protests Continue Despite Government Crackdown
December 8, 2009
By: Matt Levy

In what is amounting to be the largest anti-government protests in months, students have taken to the streets speaking out against Ahmadinejad’s reelection and criticizing Iran’s theocracy. According to the Washington Post, members of Iran’s paramilitary organization, Basij, entered Tehran University on Tuesday and met student protestors with “steel clubs, electric batons, pepper spray and tear gas.”

In its second day of protests thus far, Tehran’s police chief claims that 204 arrests have been made. According to Reuters, prosecutor Gholamhossein Mohseni-Ejei stated, “From now on, we will show no mercy toward anyone who acts against national security.” Protests began on Monday, December 7, to commemorate the deaths of 3 Iranian students in 1953 who died at the hands of the forces of the former Shah Reza Pahlavi. As the New York Times notes, students have played an integral role in Iran’s history, most noticeably during the Iranian Revolution of 1979, and that Ahmadinejad’s success in controlling students will be key to his ability to quell further dissent.

In addition, the offices of opposition candidate Mir Hossein Mousavi have been surrounded by pro-government forces barring him from leaving or playing any role in these protests, as reported by the Washington Post. Additional government suppression of these protests, strict government control of media and other communications and stringent policing of public transport have limited the size of the anti-government demonstrations.

Sources:
New York Times – Violent Protests in Iran Carry Into Second Day
http://www.nytimes.com/2009/12/09/world/middleeast/09iran.html?ref=world

Reuters - Iran says will show no mercy to opposition protesters
http://www.reuters.com/article/idUSTRE5B72WL20091208

Washington Post - Iranian forces attack student protesters on second day of demonstrations
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2009/12/08/AR2009120801388.html?hpid=moreheadlines