Students stage pro-reform protest

Students feel they have been denied justice

By Jim Muir in Tehran

Students in Iran have been staging a protest outside Tehran University to demand the release of political prisoners.

Riot police moved in to disperse them, making several arrests.

But the student movement is determined to make this a day of peaceful support for reform.

Some moved off in buses to distribute flowers in the streets of the capital. Others stayed behind, although unauthorised gatherings in the streets are illegal.

Last year's protests began peacefully

The protest is to mark the first anniversary of the attack by riot police and right-wing vigilantes on a student dormitory - an event which triggered the worst street riots since the Islamic Revolution 21 years ago.

Those who went off in buses were visiting the families of some of the prominent liberal figures currently being held behind bars for one reason or another.

They include a leading reformist lawyer, Mohsen Rahami. He was arrested 10 days ago in connection with a videotape in which a right-wing vigilante alleged that his group had the backing of various prominent public figures.

Raid

Mr Rahami had been arguing the students' case in court, where 20 police officers have been facing charges arising from the raid on the student dormitory, which triggered the riots a year ago.

The verdict is expected by Tuesday.

But one of the students bringing charges against the police told the BBC he was extremely unhappy with the way the case had been conducted.

The student is still suffering from injuries he received when police and hard-line vigilantes burst into his bedroom at the dormitory, beating him up and smashing his property.

He said that, in addition to their lawyer being arrested, some of the students were themselves now facing charges, instead of being regarded as victims.

The student movement has declared this a national day of non-violence and a seminar on that theme is being held at the dormitory.

Right-wing activists have organised various rival events.

There will be sighs of relief in the reformist camp if the day passes off without trouble.