Once Again, the U.S. Supported Anti-Government Protests in Iran - 2003-06-17

Once again, the U.S. supported anti-government protests in Iran today after Tehran accused America of interfering in its internal affairs. Richard Boucher, the spokesperson for the U.S. State Department, said on Monday that the Bush administration provided moral support to pro-democracy demonstrators in Iran, who continued their protests in the streets of Tehran for the sixth consecutive night on Sunday. Early on Monday, the Iranian government announced that it had sent a note of protest to Washington regarding what it called America's blatant interference in Iran's internal affairs. Iran claims that the U.S. incites unrest in the country and that the Iranian government has the right to take legal action. President Bush, while discussing the protests in Iran on Sunday, stated that the demonstrations are a positive step towards freedom. He said that freedom is a strong motivation and the protests in Tehran are a sign of the Iranian people's strong desire for freedom. Over 250 Iranian opposition figures, including intellectuals, journalists, reformists, and religious figures, signed a statement firmly supporting students' rights to freedom of expression to oppose the conservative Islamic government. In an unprecedented open letter with strong wording, it was declared that the Iranian people have the right to oversee the behavior and actions of their rulers and to remove them from power whenever they deem it necessary. This letter, while referring to the ruling clerics, states that it is a clear blasphemy and insult to human dignity to allow individuals to rely on divine authority and absolute power. Nightly protests around Tehran University, in the capital of Iran, which began on Tuesday, have been expanding. Since armed groups attacked students and security forces apparently increased security measures to protect them, surrounding Tehran University, the protests have somewhat subsided. The Iranian government's anti-riot forces besieged Tehran University on Sunday night and requested that pro-government armed groups refrain from attacking the university environment to suppress the students. The protests of Iranian students have spread to at least three other cities in Iran and have resulted in the death of at least one student, with Iranian media reporting that 109 individuals have been arrested by Iranian security forces.