ID :
67940
Fri, 06/26/2009 - 18:49
Auther :
Shortlink :
http://m.oananews.org//node/67940
The shortlink copeid
Aussie protesters target Iranian embassy
Australia's Iranian community and trade unionists have joined forces to protest
against Tehran's bloody crackdown on peaceful protesters in Iran.
About 250 people took their message to the Iranian embassy in Canberra on Friday,
calling for "Freedom in Iran" and "Death to the Dictator".
There is growing international concern about the situation in Iran following the
disputed presidential election earlier this month.
Since the June 12 presidential election results were announced, the Iranian capital
has been rocked by violent protests. At least 17 people have died and many more have
been taken into custody.
Prime Minister Kevin Rudd has described Tehran's crackdown on its citizens as a
"travesty of democracy".
Members of Australia's Iranian community travelled from Melbourne to attend the
demonstration in the Canberra suburb of O'Malley.
They carried placards in memory of Neda Agha-Soltan, who was seen bleeding to death
in an internet video of street violence in Tehran.
She has become a poignant symbol for the opposition challenging President Mahmoud
Ahmadinejad's disputed re-election.
Akbar Eghbali, who came to Australia from Iran about 30 years ago, told AAP many
Iranians had been waiting decades to have a chance to make their demands for
freedom.
"All (Tehran) is doing (is) promoting terrorism around the world and they're
destroying all the youth," he said.
"The people of Iran thought they would have a long way to go before they had this
chance, before the young generation turned the wheel against the dictators."
Mr Eghbali said that even a fortnight ago many in the Iranian community would have
been too scared to publicly take a stand outside the embassy.
"Two weeks ago nobody would have dreamed of making this kind of demonstration but
they have no fear any more because they have seen the worst," he said.
Busloads of unionists travelled from Sydney for the protest, continuing their
long-running campaign against Tehran's policy of locking up workers fighting for
their rights.
Kim Sattler, the assistant secretary of Unions ACT, told the crowd she had given a
letter to police to hand over to the Iranian ambassador, who refused to come out.
It expressed unions' concerns about recent violence and the practice of locking up
unionists in Iran.
against Tehran's bloody crackdown on peaceful protesters in Iran.
About 250 people took their message to the Iranian embassy in Canberra on Friday,
calling for "Freedom in Iran" and "Death to the Dictator".
There is growing international concern about the situation in Iran following the
disputed presidential election earlier this month.
Since the June 12 presidential election results were announced, the Iranian capital
has been rocked by violent protests. At least 17 people have died and many more have
been taken into custody.
Prime Minister Kevin Rudd has described Tehran's crackdown on its citizens as a
"travesty of democracy".
Members of Australia's Iranian community travelled from Melbourne to attend the
demonstration in the Canberra suburb of O'Malley.
They carried placards in memory of Neda Agha-Soltan, who was seen bleeding to death
in an internet video of street violence in Tehran.
She has become a poignant symbol for the opposition challenging President Mahmoud
Ahmadinejad's disputed re-election.
Akbar Eghbali, who came to Australia from Iran about 30 years ago, told AAP many
Iranians had been waiting decades to have a chance to make their demands for
freedom.
"All (Tehran) is doing (is) promoting terrorism around the world and they're
destroying all the youth," he said.
"The people of Iran thought they would have a long way to go before they had this
chance, before the young generation turned the wheel against the dictators."
Mr Eghbali said that even a fortnight ago many in the Iranian community would have
been too scared to publicly take a stand outside the embassy.
"Two weeks ago nobody would have dreamed of making this kind of demonstration but
they have no fear any more because they have seen the worst," he said.
Busloads of unionists travelled from Sydney for the protest, continuing their
long-running campaign against Tehran's policy of locking up workers fighting for
their rights.
Kim Sattler, the assistant secretary of Unions ACT, told the crowd she had given a
letter to police to hand over to the Iranian ambassador, who refused to come out.
It expressed unions' concerns about recent violence and the practice of locking up
unionists in Iran.
