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Head of Deutsche Welle Persian Desk: Disorders in Iran become radical

30 December 2009 [16:25] - TODAY.AZ
The events on Ashura Day in Tehran caused severe anxiety, Deutsche Welle Persian Desk Head Jamshid Faruqi said today.
While carefully observing the events, we will see that first the general public and the opposition were holding a peace rally. But after the authorities reacted sharply, the public protested in the most aggressive manner. They themselves were then forced to respond violently.

Police and opposition supporters clashed in Tehran Dec. 27 on Ashura Day. Photos published in world press show how the people attacked the police, throwing stones and burning their vehicles.

According to the Iranian police's Web site, eight people were killed - seven men and one woman.

Deputy Police General Ahmedrza Radan said 300 people were arrested.

According to international news agencies, 15 people died and 550 were arrested.

Faruqi said pressure on the opposition may become more aggressive.

"I think the situation in Iran has now reached a critical point. If the authorities do not make any concessions to the opposition and continue their aggressive policy, then opposition protests will become more radical," Faruqi told Trend News over the phone from Germany Tuesday.

He added that Iranian Supreme Religious Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei must draw attention to the protests of the people and the opposition.

"If Khamenei does not make any attempts to stop the confrontation, the situation can get out of his control completely," Faruqi said.

Protests were made held earlier after the results of the presidential elections were announced June 12. Candidates reformists Mir Hussein Musavi and Mehdi Karrubi, rivaling Ahmadinejad, refused to recognize the legitimacy of his vote.

Although thousands of opposition members have been arrested by the authorities, protests have not been ceased. The government's aggressive and brutal reactions have been sharply criticized by the U.N. Human Rights Council, Amnesty İnternational, EU and U.S.

Faruqi said the Iranian authorities have pressured the public who were holding peaceful rallies.

The day after the elections, Khamenei immediately congratulated Ahmadinejad on his victory and urged the opposition to keep silent. Khamenei has called the protests against the presidential elections a sin before God.

/Trend News/
URL: http://www.today.az/news/regions/58803.html

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