USA: Dozens of Iranian-Americans protest in Washington in solidarity with Iranian people's uprising

Record ID: 313806

  • Title: USA: Dozens of Iranian-Americans protest in Washington in solidarity with Iranian people's uprising
  • Date: 14th February 2010
  • Summary: WASHINGTON D.C. UNITED STATES (FEBRUARY 13, 2010) (REUTERS) PROTESTERS MARCHING IN FRONT OF THE WHITE HOUSE CHANTING "KHAMENEI IS A MURDERER, DOWN WITH KHAMENEI" WOMAN SCREAMING "DOWN WITH DICTATOR, DOWN WITH KHAMENEI" MEN CARRYING IRANIAN FLAG AND CARRYING POSTER (SOUNDBITE) (English) SHIRIN NARIMAN, COUNCIL FOR DEMOCRATIC CHANGE IN IRAN, SAYING: "We are here today to, first of all, show our support with Iranian people who came outside two days ago, defying the regime despite the the fact that they knew what the consequences would be in Kahrizak (prison) or Evin prison-- being killed, tortured, raped-- but anyway, they came out and they showed their defiance against the suppression that is going on in Iran. So first we are here in support of them, to let them know that even we might be miles and miles away but we are with them in this. We also support them; we want also the regime change. And also ask Obama's administration: it's time to take a tougher measurement." MORE DEMONSTRATORS CARRYING IRANIAN FLAGS (SOUNDBITE) (English) HENRY GOUDARZ, AMERICAN-IRANIAN, SAYING: "We are here in front of the White House to show our solidarity with the Iranian people inside Iran, uprising against the entire regime, the dictatorship, the Ayatollah (Ali) Khamenei and (Iranian President Mahmoud) Ahmadinejad and we are trying to say to the White House that this is time for us to stand by Iranian people rather than standing by the Ayatollah." MORE PROTESTERS MARCHERS IN FRONT OF THE WHITE HOUSE
  • Embargoed: 1st March 2010 12:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: Usa
  • Country: USA
  • Topics: International Relations,Domestic Politics
  • Reuters ID: LVA4EIKQ7U4EO2AN04QV0SPX9M4A
  • Story Text: Scores of Iranian-Americans braved the frigid temperatures in Washington D.C. on Saturday (February 13) and marched outside the White House in solidarity with the Iranian people's uprising on the anniversary of the 1979 revolution.
    The demonstrators said they were rallying to show support to the hundreds of thousands of Iranians who defied what they called "unprecedented repressive measures" taken by the Iranian regime and came out onto the streets of Tehran and other cities to call for a change in leadership.
    Iranian-American protesters also called on the Obama administration to stand with the Iranian people and take stronger measures against Tehran.
    "We are here in front of the White House to show our solidarity with the Iranian people inside Iran, uprising against the entire regime, the dictatorship, the Ayatollah (Ali) Khamenei and (Iranian President Mahmoud) Ahmadinejad and we are trying to say to the White House that this is time for us to stand by Iranian people rather than standing by the Ayatollah," Henry Goudarz said.
    Shirin Nariman, who helped organize the protest, said the main purpose of the rally was to show support to the people who defiantly risked death, and other grave consequences by marching on the streets of Tehran two days ago.
    "We are here in support of them to let them know that even we might be miles and miles away but we are with them in this. We also support them; we want also the regime change," Nariman said.
    The Iranian opposition movement calls itself The Green Movement and is made up of a number of pro-reform groups and parties, which overall seek political change in Iran and say that President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad won the June 12 election by fraud.
    The crackdown against protesters in Iran has recently intensified. Iranian human-rights organizations said that since the June election, more than a thousand people have been arrested, hundreds of students, activists and lawyers have lost their jobs or been prevented from continuing their education, and thousands more have fled Iran because of security concerns.
    A handful of death sentences have also been handed down.
  • Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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