Posted on 05/07/2007 8:43:44 PM PDT by nuconvert
Sweden: Protests Against Mottaki's Visit
May 07, 2007
The Local
TT/AFP/The Local
Between 100 and 200 Iranian dissidents protested in Stockholm on Monday against a visit to Sweden by Iranian Foreign Minister Manouchehr Mottaki. Protesters threw eggs at the door of the Swedish Institute of International Affairs where Mottaki was due to deliver a speech, and shouted slogans denouncing the Iranian regime. The group also called for the release of political prisoners.
A large police force was on hand to prevent the demonstrators from entering the building.
Mottaki was scheduled to meet with Swedish Foreign Minister Carl Bildt and Deputy Prime Minister Maud Olofsson later on Monday.
The visit to Sweden of the Iranian foreign minister also led to protests from a number of Swedish organizations.
On Monday, several newspapers published a joint article penned by representatives of Swedish publishing and writers' organizations in which Carl Bildt and Maud Olofsson are urged to issue a strong protest against the Iranian regime's mistreatment of women pushing for equal rights in the country.
Two weeks ago, two leading figures in the Iranian women's movement were each sentenced to three years in prison for "conspiracy with the intention of damaging national security".
The two women, Parvin Ardalan and Nooshin Ahmadi Khorosani, were among the instigators of a campaign for equal rights which managed to gather one million supportive signatures.
The authors of Monday's article called for the verdict against the women to be overturned and for Foreign Minister Bildt and Deputy Prime Minister Olofsson to encourage the EU to take action on their behalf.
Several Iranian women's organizations in Sweden have condemned the Swedish government for allowing Mottaki to visit. They have also called for Sweden to break off all political and cultural ties with Iran.
pong
New, there’s an immigrant protest I can get behind!
Now, there’s an immigrant protest I can get behind!
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