vigilant TV

The Iranian government has confirmed the arrest of more than 4,000 at protests earlier this month. Demonstrators were attacked by police and pro-government supporters after protesting against the hard-line clerical government’s stance on education and freedom.

Iran’s prosecutor general, Abdolnabi Namazi, said about 800 students and 30 key student leaders were among over 4,000 arrested as a result of the June 10-14 recent protests, the state-run daily Iran reported today. He said yesterday that about 2,000 people remained in jail. Authorities had earlier said only 520 people – mostly “hooligans” – had been detained.

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The recent protests were the largest in months and began with students demonstrating against plans to privatise universities, then snowballed into broader displays of opposition to Iran’s hard-line clerical establishment, led by supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. The demonstrations largely ended after the deployment of hundreds of security forces and unleashing of pro-clergy thugs – armed with knives and batons – to attack protesters. – AP, Iran crisis ‘deepening’.

See also the Guardian, Student protesters warn leaders to allow free speech or risk confrontation.