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Iran Focus
 Tehran,
Iran, Jun. 13 – At least 400 people were arrested during a peaceful anti-government
demonstration by women in Tehran on Monday, according to a statement
emailed to Iran Focus by one of the women’s groups that had originally
sponsored the protest.
Mohammad Torang, the spokesman for the State
Security Forces in the Iranian capital, said on Tuesday that all those
arrested during Monday’s protest had been handed over to the Ministry of
Intelligence and Security, Iran’s
dreaded secret police.
Iran’s
Justice Minister Jamal Karimi-Rad said on Tuesday
that 70 people had been arrested during the protest. “42 of those arrested
were women and 28 were men. They were charged with taking part in an
illegal demonstration”, Karimi-Rad said.
Iranian officials routinely play down the scope of anti-government protests
and deflate the number of those arrested significantly.
Meanwhile, a hard-line female Majlis deputy
claimed on Monday that the female protestors took part in the rally in
order to win human rights awards.
“These women gathered out of recreation to sweeten themselves in the eyes
of groups and organisations affiliated to the
United Nations to win awards”, Eshrat Shayeq told the government-owned website Aftab.
Security forces used truncheons and teargas to attack the several thousand
women who had gathered in 7 Tir Square demanding equal
rights, sources said.
“Put an end to misogyny”, the women chanted. There were also chants of
“freedom, freedom”, “we are human beings but have no rights”, and “we want
equal rights”.
Hundreds of young men took part in the rally and clashed with the agents of
the SSF.
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