Iran parliament debates student protests

Thousands of people took to the streets of Tehran

Speaking after a cabinet meeting, Iranian President Mohammad Khatami said, “In this country the freedom to criticise and even protest must exist but on the condition that the law is respected.”

Between 10 June and 20 June thousands of Iranian students and citizens took to the streets of Tehran protesting against the country’s ruling cleric.

Iran’s parliament set up a five-member committee to meet students arrested during the protests and called on families to provide the names of any missing students, press reports said.

At least 1,000 people were arrested during the protests. Iran’s judiciary puts the figure much lower.

Demonstrations were marred by clashes between protesters and members of the Basij militia who regard themselves as protectors of the 1979 Islamic revolution.

Iran’s police also arrested Basij members.

Member of Parliament Ali Akbar Mussavi Khoini was quoted as saying by the Toseh newspaper that a “large number of students were arrested and we don’t know which state organs arrested them”.

Families have been gathering outside Tehran’s Evin prison asking about their children.

The demonstrations also spread to other cities in the islamic republic.