Five things you need to know about protests in Iran
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There are growing tensions in Iran after anti-government protests erupted over the country’s economic policies across different cities.
At least two people have been killed in the demonstrations, which continued for a third day on Saturday.
Here are five things you need to know:
What’s happening?
Iranians began protesting on Thursday in the second-largest city of Masshad, rallying against high prices.
While some say economic woes are caused by Iran’s foreign policy, as the country is involved in regional conflicts, others say sanctions have ultimately hit people’s pockets.
By Friday, rallies spread to the capital, Tehran, and other major cities.
According to local media reports, thousands have taken to the streets to voice their frustration against the government.
At least 50 people were arrested in Masshad, according to reports.
The demonstrations have gained momentum and are described as the largest in nearly a decade.
In the capital, Tehran, dozens of students on Saturday chanted anti-government slogans outside Tehran University, before being dispersed by riot police and large crowds of pro-government demonstrators.
Videos posted on Twitter by the New York-based Center for Human Rights in Iran appeared to show police in riot gear clashing with protesters outside the gates to the Tehran University.
Al Jazeera could not authenticate the footage, but semi-state news agency Fars also reported confrontations between police and protesters at Tehran University.
What are protesters demanding?
Some protesters are rallying against rising prices, unemployment and economic inequality, according to anti-government activists and Iran’s semi-state news agency Fars.
Others are also chanting anti-government slogans against the country’s foreign policy, such as “Death to Rouhani”, “Forget Palestine”, “Not Gaza, not Lebanon, my life for Iran”.
“Because of [President Hassan] Rouhani’s failed economic policies, there was a simmering discontent below the surface that is now emerging,” Ali Fathollah-Nejad, visiting fellow at the Brookings Doha Center, told Al Jazeera.
“On the other hand when it comes to political repression, things have not improved,” he said. “So basically, there are both socioeconomic and political grievances.”
Meanwhile, Potkin Azarmehr, a blogger who focuses on the secular pro-democracy struggle in Iran, told Al Jazeera that several groups have been protesting for some time “and now their slogans have become more radical”.
What does the government say?
Iran’s government acknowledged people’s concerns over the economy but warned demonstrators against disruptive behaviour.
“Those who damage public property, disrupt order and break the law must be responsible for their behaviour and pay the price,” Abdolrahman Rahmani Fazli said on state television early on Sunday.
Fazli had earlier called on people not to participate in what he termed “illegal gatherings”.
According to the local media, thousands have taken to the streets so far [Anadolu]
Eshaq Jahangiri, first vice president of Iran, said on Friday that while some protesters were rallying against high prices, others were set on derailing the government.
“All economic indications in the country are good. Yes, there is an increase in the prices of some products and the government is working on fixing causes of high prices,” he said.
“The people behind what is taking place think they will be able to harm the government. But when social movements and protests start in the street, those who have ignited them are not always able to control them.”
Meanwhile, Habibollah Khojastepour, security deputy of the governor of Lorestan province, said on Sunday that the presence of “agitators” prevented a peaceful end to the protest, according to Mehr news agency.
He also blamed “foreign agents” for the deaths of the two protesters, saying that security forces did not fire on the crowd.
How has the international community responded?
The US has been quick to respond to developments, warning Tehran against arresting peaceful protesters.
US President Donald Trump has posted a series of tweets on Iran, most recently writing: “Oppressive regimes cannot endure forever. The world is watching!”
Oppressive regimes cannot endure forever, and the day will come when the Iranian people will face a choice. The world is watching! pic.twitter.com/kvv1uAqcZ9
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) December 30, 2017
Under Trump’s administration, Washington and Tehran have grown further apart, clashing on foreign policy issues such as the wars in Syria and Yemen and over the 2015 nuclear deal with world powers.
The State Department also condemned “the arrest of peaceful protesters”.
“We urge all nations to publicly support the Iranian people and their demands for basic rights and an end to corruption,” it said in a statement on Friday.
Small solidarity protests have also taken place in France and Germany.
What’s expected to happen next?
There are now calls on social media for a fourth day of anti-government demonstrations on Sunday.
Experts say the demonstrations have escalated much faster than anticipated.
“It wasn’t expected to be anything beyond the slogans against the administration and the president,” said Negar Mortazavi, a journalist for Iran International, an independent online news service.
“But, it seems like the dissent within the Iranian population is so much deeper that this has gone beyond the presidency and all the way up to the Supreme Leader [Ayatollah Ali Khamenei], which is very worrisome for all factions of the establishment.”
Article source: http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/saskatoon/saskatoon-man-reflects-carrie-fisher-visit-1.3915471?cmp=rss
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