Protests break out in Iran capital against election candidate

Iran Focus: Tehran, Jun. 15 – Iranian students from Tehran’s Lecturers’ Training College yesterday evening demonstrated against presidential hopeful Mohammad-Baqer Qalibaf, clashing with security forces in several neighbourhoods of the capital. The protest began after an election rally on campus by Qalibaf’s campaign team. Iran Focus

Tehran, Jun. 15 – Iranian students from Tehran’s Lecturers’ Training College yesterday evening demonstrated against presidential hopeful Mohammad-Baqer Qalibaf, clashing with security forces in several neighbourhoods of the capital.

The protest began after an election rally on campus by Qalibaf’s campaign team.

The paramilitary police sealed off North Amir-Abad Street with minibuses to prevent the protest from spilling to other parts of the capital.

Demonstrators held up traffic from Sarbaze Gomnam Boulevard to Aale Ahmad Square, shouting slogans against the clerical rulers and called on the public to boycott the upcoming elections.

Students gathered in the crowded Laleh Park and chanted, “Guns, Tanks, Qalibaf are no longer effective”. The slogan has been popular in anti-government demonstrations for years, but the students this time replaced the word Bassijis (Islamic vigilantes) with Qalibaf, in a clear reference to his reputation as an iron-fist paramilitary police commander until last month.

Other students gathered in Vali-Asr Street, chanting similar slogans against the former police chief-turned-reformist.

There was a heavy security presence to prevent people from joining the protesters. Security forces were dispatched on motorcycles from Revolution Square.