Posted on 08/15/2005 3:53:31 PM PDT by nuconvert
LA protesters call for the release of Iranian political prisoners - Sunday, August 14, 2005
Los Angeles (AP) --
Hundreds of demonstrators called for the release of student leaders held since 1999 by the Iranian government during a rally Sunday at the Federal Building in West Los Angeles.
The protesters marched in support of Manoucher Mohammadi and Akbar Ganji, who were arrested in a crackdown on anti-government protests at Tehran University in July 1999 and who have recently embarked on a hunger strike.
The government jailed about 1,200 people during the crackdown. Most were freed soon after, but Iranian authorities have continued to jail those accused of leading the protests.
At the time of the crackdown, Iran's Interior Ministry paraded Mohammadi on television and claimed he had spearheaded the "disorder and violence." The ministry said that Mohammadi had confessed to receiving money from "Zionist elements."
Mohammadi and Ganji are both currently on hunger strikes, family members said.
(Excerpt) Read more at sfgate.com ...
Oh, yes, this ought to work. Lets get together half way around the world and chant demands....
pong
And whats your point?
"LA protesters call for the release of Iranian political prisoners"
Remember when they protested to get the Shah out of Iran and Khoumeni (sp?) in? I don't care what they want...ship them back to Iran and let them do their protesting there!
excuse me! but these people in LA have fled Iran right after the bloody revolution of 1979
Those people protesting the Shah went back to Iran and now rule that poor country!
"but these people in LA have fled Iran"
If they "fled" why are they protesting?
why not?
Do you know enough about Iran?
And that has worked with Saddam and the Mullahs and the Taliban?
These people do not want your approval, they believe they have GOD on their side and are doing God's work.
?
Demonstrations show support and bring attention to a cause.
FReepers do it a lot.
"Repressive governments are less likely to just execute imprisoned dissidents if they know the outside world is watching."
"And that has worked with Saddam and the Mullahs and the Taliban?"
It works with the mullahs, yes.
You have a problem with American citizens protesting against a brutal regime which tortures political prisoners?
You have a problem with anyone in the world doing that?
Why should American citizens be shipped back to Iran?
And why should anyone who fled a brutal gov't so they wouldn't be killed, be returned to that country if they're living productive, law abiding lives here?
ping
I don't dispute that.
But Freepers show up RIGHT BESIDE CINDY.
They don't show up 8000 miles away.
I have sympathy for the cause, but I just feel this is apointless, feel good jesture, and that the Mullahs will never even hear about, much less give a hoot about.
Please read #12 & 10
Any dissident in jail in Iran has a better chance of survival and release from jail or lessening of his sentence, if his case is publicized.
We may well ask 'why did they bring their protest to America?' Why not somewhere else?
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