Iranian Students Protest

Seems that at least some Iranians are growing restless with their president and protesting at Tehran University. Will American students ever get off their fat asses and make a stand? Odds are against it.

TEHRAN, Oct. 8 — For the second time in less than a year, university students in Tehran on Monday mounted a protest to a speech by President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad. More than 100 students clashed with supporters of Mr. Ahmadinejad at Tehran University, where he was speaking to mark the beginning of the new school year.

Mr. Ahmadinejad angered students and professors at the university after his election in 2005 when he appointed a cleric as the university’s president. Many liberal professors and students have been dismissed since then, and activists have come under increasing pressure.

“Death to the dictator,” and “Free jailed students,” shouted the protesters, referring to three student activists who have been jailed since May, said witnesses who asked not to be identified out of fear of repercussions.

“It is more than four months since three students have been jailed and are under the worst kind of physical and psychological torture,” said Mohsen Seyedin, a student activist, according to the Web site for Amir Kabir University in Tehran. Pro-democracy students there had protested during a speech by the president in December. “Mr. Ahmadinejad must answer why they should pay this price for criticizing him.”

Students at Tehran University said Monday that only the most ardent supporters of the president were allowed to be present for the speech. The protesters gathered outside and scuffled several times with the Ahmadinejad supporters, as well as with riot police officers stationed outside the university.