Thousands demonstrate for release of political prisoners in Iran

Iran Focus:

Tehran, Iran, Jul. 12 – Thousands of residents demonstrated this evening in front of the main gate of Tehran University, calling for the release of political prisoners.

Demonstrators included relatives of political prisoners, many of whom turned up with photos of their relatives presently in prison in the notorious Evin Prison in Tehran and Gohar-Dasht Prison in Karaj. They chanted “Free all political prisoners” and “In Iran, the cry is freedom”. Many called for the immediate release of jailed journalist Akbar Ganji.

There was a heavy police presence. State Security Forces and plainclothes agents stormed at the crowd with batons, clashing with demonstrators and injuring some seriously.

A number of protestors were also detained after holding up photos of Iranian opposition leader Maryam Rajavi.

A number of political prisoners in Evin and Gohar-Dasht prisons have been on hunger strike for more than a month in protest to their prison conditions and as part of a boycott effort of the June presidential elections.

A Reuters journalist saw policemen beat several protesters, including young women, in streets surrounding the university and was struck by batons several times himself.

Other reporters and photographers were also forced to leave the scene, witnesses said.