Iran Focus: Tehran, Jun. 17 – Demonstrations simultaneously erupted in the Iranian capital this afternoon, with protestors denouncing what they termed a sham election and urging fellow Iranians to boycott the polls. A large demonstration started in Golha (Flowers) Square, near Shokoufeh Square, in southeast Tehran, and a separate protest began in Vali-e Asr Square on the intersection of Palestine Street at 3:00 p.m., lasting for some two hours. Iran Focus
Tehran, Jun. 17 – Demonstrations simultaneously erupted in the Iranian capital this afternoon, with protestors denouncing what they termed a sham election and urging fellow Iranians to boycott the polls.
A large demonstration started in Golha (Flowers) Square, near Shokoufeh Square, in southeast Tehran, and a separate protest began in Vali-e Asr Square on the intersection of Palestine Street at 3:00 p.m., lasting for some two hours.
Protestors chanted long live freedom, the cry of every Iranian is freedom, we reject dictatorship, boycott the elections, and the regime will be overthrown.
Protesters were carrying large photographs of Maryam Rajavi, the President-elect of the National Council of Resistance of Iran, who had called for a nationwide boycott of the Presidential elections in Iran three months ago.
Irans dreaded State Security Forces opened fire on the protesters to disperse the crowd. At one point, the crowd charged back and clashed with the SSF.
Eye-witnesses reported that polling stations in the vicinity of the protests were shut down by authorities.
Internet cafes were also shut down in the capital and other major cities such as Isfahan (central Iran) in an apparent effort to prevent the spread of election news by ordinary Iranians.
A number of students taking part in the demonstration stated that authorities had warned them that if their identity cards did not carry an election stamp, they would not be allowed to take part in university entrance exams.
