| Submit your comments on this article |
| Syria-Lebanon-Iran |
| Iranian journalists prevented from demonstrating in support of Paris victims |
| 2015-01-09 |
| [RFE/RL] Security forces in Tehran prevented a gathering of Iranian journalists attempting to stage a demonstration in support for victims of the Charlie Hebdo massacre. The demonstration was attempted on January 8 near the building which had housed the Association of Iranian Journalists before it was shut down by former President Ahmadinejad's government in August 2009. Witnesses said police and security forces prevented them from gathering in front of the building, which has been sealed since it was raided in 2009. A source said that there was a heavy police presence on the streets leading to the Association of Iranian Journalists before the scheduled demonstration. He said journalists had planned to put flowers and light candles in front of the building, but they were forced to leave after an hour of trying to bargain with the police. One journalist who was planning to participate in the solidarity gathering said, "We just wanted to express our disgust regarding the terrorist attack." On January 7, Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Marzieh Afkham said, "All acts of terrorism against innocent people are alien to the doctrine and teachings of Islam," but added, "making use of freedom of expression... to humiliate the monotheistic religions and their values and symbols is unacceptable." |
| Posted by:ryuge |