Iranian women defy police whips to demonstrate against dictatorship

[democratic]

http://news.independent.co.uk/world/middle_east/story.jsp?story=646519

By Angus McDowall in Tehran

13 June 2005

Hundreds of women demonstrated outside Tehran university, calling for greater rights and a boycott of Friday's presidential election.

They shouted "down with dictatorship!" and "shame on you!" in response to the aggressive tactics of police, who tried to prevent protesters reaching the demonstration yesterday.

As the protest ended, another began on the other side of the street calling for a boycott of the election, to be contested by eight candidates who were approved by a clerical watchdog.

Iran's most famous woman poet read to a hushed audience on the ground. But soon afterwards, the crowd roared and surged forward as somebody was dragged away by police. A weeping elderly woman said that she had been struck by a policeman as she tried to approach the rally.

[downwitbush]

1. if only we had that courage

if only all democrats were willing to do this, we could end this tyranny right now...

[420inTN]

2. We should improve things here first n/t

[Porcupine]

3. Gosh!! Lets just kill em all and save them from Islam!!

Look at all the women we "saved" from oppressive Islamists in Iraq and Afghanistan. Before in Iraq an unveiled woman was harrased if she went out on the street. Now women in Iraq stay home where they are safe from kidnapping, death squads and car bombs. Much better! :sarcasm: