Sayeh Hassan is a Toronto based Barrister & Solicitor and owner of Shiro-khorshid-forever.
As many of you may be aware a protest has been organized in Toronto for Saturday June 27th 2009 on Yonge Street, supposedly in Solidarity with the Iranian People. A few disturbing facts about this protest:
The following news release has been posted about the Baha'i leaders in Iran. These women and men have been unjustly held in the notorious Evin prison for over a year - on charges that are entirely based on their religious beliefs. As an Iranian human rights activist and researcher, I stand in complete opposition to the actions of the government of Iran. I know members of the Baha'i community personally, and have witnessed their deep love and affinity with Iran, even among Baha’is who are themselves non-Iranian. Thus making such charges of espionage all the more outrageous and false.
According to numerous sources including CNN, Global News and Radio Farda, protests in Tehran continued today Wednesday June 24th in Baharestan Square. According to global news the protests turned extremely violent with security forces attacking the people mercilessly, beating them, shooting at them and throwing protesters off the bridge! There were also reports of militia groups running around with axes and attacking protesters with it. Tear gas was also used to try to suppress the protests.
Yesterday Iran saw probably the biggest demonstration since the Revolution. The Regime media has announced that 13 people were killed and 100 wounded during the demonstrations. However according to CNN the number of people killed were between 19to 150 people. Many of us have seen the video of a young and beautiful girl named Neda be shot to death. I received an email from one of my contacts in Iran who said yesterday people were shouting death to the Islamic Regime!!!
According to news from Radio Farda the Islamic Regime security forces have closed the area around “Enghelab Square” and started throwing tear gas at the protesters. As well they have attacked the protesters with batons and other weapons, in the most brutal way.
According to news I received from my contacts in Tehran the Basij and the police attacked the student in Tehran University last night (Sunday), and the attack on students lasted until 3 am in the morning. The students were shouting slogans such as “death to dictator” and “death to Khamenei.” The police closed the streets to prevent students from leaving University grounds and from other people coming in. They attacked the students with tear gas, and students fought back by throwing stones.
Student Council of Defense of Human Rights in Kurdistan: Mr. Yaser Goli’s 15 year jail sentence as well as the sentence of exile to Baft Prison was upheld by the Court of Appeal in the province of Kurdistan on February 17th 2009. The sentence was upheld 17 months after Mr. Goli’s arrest. He started serving his sentence on February 18th 2009.