Eighth Night of Protests, Reuters June 18, 2003

For the eighth consecutive night, hundreds of Iranians took to the streets early Wednesday evening, demanding freedom. In seven cities, many were arrested and some were injured. To avoid beatings by the Islamic government's thugs, the protesters stayed in their cars and honked their horns around the university area, creating traffic. The state news agency IRNA reported protests in six other cities, but it seems the number of protesters has decreased. In response to accusations from the ruling clerics claiming they have uncovered a U.S. conspiracy behind these protests, a high school student said, 'If going to the streets brings me more freedom, I will take to the streets, no matter who calls for it.' IRNA reported that at least 90 people have been arrested in Tabriz over the past two days, and Tabriz University was surrounded by riot police. Police in Yazd used tear gas to disperse protests, and in Karaj, windows of banks, shops, and a Ministry of Justice building were broken. Analysts believe that due to the fact that after the university protests in 1999 and 2002, most student leaders were either imprisoned or left the country, the recent protests will subside. Tehran University was again under the watch of official police, who do not allow students and government militia to engage. However, in a working-class neighborhood in eastern Tehran, regular police, riot police, and Muslim thugs stood shoulder to shoulder, watching over the defiance of young criminal gangs. IRNA reported that protests in this area began due to a sudden raid to collect satellite dishes.