Global Protests Demand End of Iran Abuses

Demonstrations Around the World Call for Release of Hundreds Detained During Post-Election Unrest

(CBS/AP)  Last updated 3:35 p.m. ET.

Protesters across the world on Saturday called on Iran to end its clampdown on opposition activists, demanding the release of hundreds rounded up during demonstrations against the country's disputed election.

Groups including Human Rights Watch and Amnesty International are backing a global day of action, with protests planned in more than a hundred cities.

The protesters want Iranian authorities to release what they say are hundreds, or even thousands, of people detained during protests that followed the presidential election last month that returned Mahmoud Ahmadinejad to power.

In a letter sent Saturday, opposition leader Mir Hossein Mousavi, former President Mohammad Khatami and 67 other prominent reformists urged Iran's top clerics to pressure the regime to release protesters and activists who they say have been tortured to extract confessions.

Police said about 600 protesters joined a "noisy but peaceful" demonstration, outside the Iranian embassy in London, one of a series of events in cities across Europe. In Brussels, Belgium, protesters held placards carrying images of the detained or dead, including Neda Agha Soltan, the 27-year-old whose death - beamed around the world on the Internet - became a rallying cry for opponents of the regime.

In Amsterdam, Iranian Nobel Peace prize laureate Shirin Ebadi urged the international community to reject the outcome of the Iranian election and called for a new vote monitored by the United Nations.

Addressing several hundred people, she said Iran should not be allowed to become another Zimbabwe, apparently referring to the violence surrounding that African country's disputed presidential election.

Hecklers in the crowd, some of them supporters of the monarchy ousted in 1979, shouted slogans of "Death to the Islamic regime." But the Iranian lawyer and human rights activist urged restraint, saying the protesters should be chanting for life and democracy rather than death to their opponents.

In Tehran, Iranian police and pro-government militia attacked and scattered hundreds of protesters who had gathered in Iran's capital in response to the global demonstrations of solidarity, witnesses said.

Demonstrators in Vanak and Mirdamad districts chanted "death to the dictator" and "we want our vote back" before they were attacked and beaten by police Saturday. The witnesses spoke on condition of anonymity for fear of retaliation.

About 80 people wearing headbands, wristbands or bandanas in green - the color of Iran's protest movement - demonstrated in front of the U.N.'s European headquarters in Geneva. "The young people have had enough," said protester Jacky Carel, a member of a Swiss-Iranian cultural organization. "It cannot go on like this."

Several hundred people staged a rally at Paris' Trocadero square overlooking the Eiffel Tower. Many brandished signs reading "Free Iran" and "Where is my vote?" while others stood behind a cloth banner meant to look like the bars on a prison cell.

"We've had enough of religious regimes that don't have the Iranian people's best interest at heart," said protester Sakineh Davoodi, a 50-year-old cashier from Iran who has lived in France for 23 years.

In the Pakistani capital, Islamabad, some 20 Iranians - among them refugees, students and others - gathered outside the local press club to protest the Iranian crackdown, yelling "Death to the dictator!"

"Innocent Iranians are being killed," said Hessam Moghimi, 27, who has lived in Pakistan for about eight years. "We want justice for the blood that's been spilled."

In Australia, there were small protests in Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane, Adelaide and the capital, Canberra.

About 50 people waved flags and banners reading "Stop torture" and "Iran election was a fraud" on the steps of the parliament of Victoria state in Melbourne.

In Canberra, Ardeshir Gholipour, a 41-year-old refugee from Iran who arrived in Australia in 2000 after spending two years in an Iranian prison for political protests, said Western governments should take a tougher stand against the Ahmadinejad regime.

"The Australian government should reject the Iranian ambassador - send a big signal," he said.

About 80 people gathered in Tokyo, draping green scarves around their necks and lighting candles.

The crowd watched recent news footage of Iran and a slideshow on a screen set up in Miyashita Park in downtown Tokyo to the backdrop of rock music, and applauded speeches calling for "a free Iran" and fair elections.

In Seoul, South Korea, where about 30 people rallied, Amnesty's Park Jin-ok said the group was calling for "immediate and unconditional release" of detainees.

About 20 gathered in a small square in Sao Paulo, Brazil, to take part in a 30-minute rally. Fariba Vahdat, a member of Brazil's Baha'i community, said she attended to protest "the cruelty being meted out on the streets of Iran."

Dozens of activists gathered outside the embassy of Iran in Prague to protest the detention of those who protested election results in Iran. "The people could face torture and their lives are in danger," said Lenka Pitronova, an organizer of the rally.

The demonstrators also want the U.N. to investigate alleged rights abuses and say Tehran must allow freedom of expression and assembly.

Hundreds of thousands of Iranians held protests denouncing the election as fraudulent until security forces launched a heavy crackdown, arresting hundreds and killing at least 20.


U.S. Plans for Protests

Several groups plan to protest in Washington, D.C., to condemn what they call human rights abuses being committed by the Iranian government.

Organizers say they will begin at the United Nations office in downtown D.C. Saturday afternoon and then march to the National Mall. They say Nobel Peace Prize laureate Jody Williams will join them in calling for human rights in Iran and for an end to recent violence following the country's June 12 elections.

United4Iran.org has posted information on protests being held in at least 110 cities around the world. In the U.S., demonstrations are also planned for Altamonte Springs, Fla., Ann Arbor, Mich., Atlanta, Austin, Boston, Boulder, Colo., Charlotte, N.C., Chicago, Cincinnati, Columbus, Ohio, Dallas, Dayton, Ohio, Detroit, Helena, Mont., Honolulu, Houston, Irvine, Calif., Kansas City, Mo., Las Vegas, Lincoln, Neb., Los Angeles, Madison, Wisc., Miami, Minneapolis, New York, Phoenix, Portland, Me., Portland, Ore., Raleigh, N.C., St. Louis, Salt Lake City, San Diego, San Francisco, Seattle, Syracuse, N.Y., Tempe, Ariz., Tucson, and Urbana-Champaign, Ill.

Earlier this week, hundreds of protesters, including many on hunger strike, gathered across from U.N. Headquarters in New York this week in support of Iran's opposition movement.

[curiously1]

texbelle - Reagan was the best president that I have seen in my lifetime. He was a no nonsense fella. That's what need right now- someone to put the hammer down and get folks to listen. If you are old enough to remember how he dealt with the hostage crisis, you should know what I mean. Otherwise, please read about it. I am not saying this to be sarcastic.

[Stevenapoli7]

I was in Vienna yesterday. Maybe 10 people were listening to the Iranian protest downtown. 25 meters away 200 people were watching breakdance performing street entertainers. Interesting.

[formrusmcsgt]

Global Protests Demand End of Iran Abuses
---
As if the Supreme Ayotollah gives a rat's ass about their demands.....

[texbelle123]

I was not impressed with poster curiously1 when he said he wanted another Reagan (shudder! worst President ever) but by the time I got past all the stuff from A-Z and curiously1's response to him, I was going "Yeah!!"

Live and learn, huh?

[curiously1]

Charlie- I must admit, you are a humorous person.

Anti-Zionist- As I said before, you are an Arab. I understand your beef with the Jews but you ought to realize that this is your beef and not mine or my country's.
Go fight Israel all you want, I don't care. What I do care about is freedom. You seem to want to defend the islamic thugs for your own purpose no matter what they do. Fine with me, fight them! But realize that this is your friggin fight and I don't care who comes out of this as winner. As I was taught since I was a child, If one is born stupid, they will live a stupid life. Be stupid, Akhmet, or Makhmoot, or whatever your friggin name is, but don't ask us to follow your stupid, illogical, unproductive, vicious, and barbaric wars. F**k you !

[curiously1]

"One" doesn't have to wonder about nothing ! "One" has to recognize that the world is thirsty for "Freedom". I personally support it anywhere and anytime. I'm old enough to have seen the civil rights movement and I have read plenty about the American Independence War and the French revolution. I eat and sleep freedom. Don't try to over-analyze this struggle for freedom in Iran and don't try to downplay it. It is pure and sincere and you should feel honored to be alive to have seen these brave Iranians stand up to reclaim their country. No matter what the supporters of the Iranian government (thugs) and (the poster named Anti-Zionist) do, this revolution is here to stay. People, all around the world, are fed up with the islamic thugs, the bombings, beheadings, shootings, and other acts of viciousness that these radical muslim thugs are committing. It's time to clean the world of this cancer and I, for one, tip my hat off to the brave Iranian men and women who are giving their lives for this cause. In other words, if you can't help or support, just shut up !

[jwesel1]

One has to wonder why all this conscience only wakes up when the government is not a US puppet.The Hosni Mubarak's regime has been "winning" elections in Egypt with 99% votes for the last 20 years, still no one raises an eyebrow.

[rickyg2]

anti-Zionist,completely agree with you.as soon some people come out and demonstrate in Iran or outside it becomes a world news,people are dying from starvation in America and losing their home and we are obsess with Iranian affair,Chinese have been killing their People for last 3 weeks and we talk about Iran,it is pretty funny how some people in America love Iranian all of sudden but 6 months ago wanted to bomb them.leave them alone,they don't need America and also they know we are not there to help them but take advantage of their oil and land.

[curiously1]

AZ- You're blinded by your hate towards Israel. I think you're an Arab.

[melchg07]

One has to wonder if the president did say something like you want him to, what impact would it have??

The only likely thing would be that it would give the regime words to toss around stating that the big bad usa is meddling in their affairs.

Do you really think that if the USA said something like you want that it would have any sort of positive affect right now? Give me a break.

I think the words that have more power are the words coming from their own citizen's mouths...which they clearly have stated over and over. The USA does not need to do or say anything for the citizens of Iran have spoken and even after crack downs continue to speak.

As the old saying goes "If its not broken why fix it."

I for one am proud of my vote for Obama strictly for the way he handled this situation. McCain and many others would have bungled this situation.

The fact that the people are still protesting and other higher ups are critcizing their top leaders are huge. Their nutjob of a President is a lame duck and will be for the rest of his term.....however long that may be.

Me and many of the "lefties" as you right wingers like to call us said that Iran would have elections that likely would change the course of Iran and that most Iranians are moderates........meanwhile the rightwingers were calling for Iran to be wiped off the map.

How Christian of you right wingers.

[melchg07]

TO: How Very Funny aka Rowdy

Rowdy why don't you just give up. You were at the forefront calling for Iran's destruction prior to the election.

Admit it. You know little to nothing about everything.

In essense you were calling for millions of good people to be wiped off the map. How different are you from Hilter you self righteous hypocrite?

Get some help......get some serious help.

[curiously1]

Obama lives in a world of idiology. I am neither righty or lefty but I wish Reagan was the president today. I am waiting for one brave western leader to finally call this as it is: "This Iranian regime is nothing but a bunch of thugs with zero respect for freedom, democracy and humanity". But, hey, I guess we need the oil to keep us going !

[jwesel1]

But the Bush's regime was nothing but a bunch of thugs with zero respect for freedom, democracy and humanity". But, hey, I guess we don't need all the reality, only the part that serves us.

[Thorinz]

No Musslim nations demonstrating??? How strange..........

[John_Merritt]

I think that is there way of saying 'If it doesn't matter to us, why should it matter to you'. Just a guess. Maybe the older brothers (Saudi and Egypt) are going to let the youngsters have their day in the sun, and than put their foot down? Oh well, we can play this game forever because we have no business telling another country what they should do, unless it directly impacts us. I think I will stick that one.

I just feel sorry for the people who live there. Maybe someone could take them in under 'political asylum' policies. The US will take anyone.

[formrusmcsgt]

We don't subsidize Iran, twit.