Tehran governor dismisses opposition request for rally

Tehran Governor Morteza Tamaddon

Tehran Governor Morteza Tamddon says: “There was no reason for us to issue a demonstration permit,” referring to the opposition’s application for a permit to stage a silent rally on June 12.

Tehran Governor declared that there will be no gathering on June 12 and “the seditious movement” according to Tamddon, had made a request from the governor’s office for an “unrealistic demonstration.”

ISNA reports that Tamddon referred to the June 12 demonstration as a “ridiculous” affair that is “not a subject of discussion.” He added that any attempt at disrupting public order on this day will be “confronted according to the law.”

Iranian opposition leaders, MirHosein Mousavi and Mehdi Karroubi put in an official application for a peaceful demonstration to mark the anniversary of the controversial presidential election of 2009 on June 12.

The victory of Mahmoud Ahmadienjad in 2009 was challenged by millions of demonstrators on the streets of Tehran demanding to have their votes back. Ahamdienajd opponents, Mousavi and Karroubi accused the government of rigging the ballot in Ahmadienjad’s favour and have vowed to continue fighting the outcome of the elections through every legal channel.

The two opposition leaders announced yesterday that they have cancelled their rally call because news had reached them about an organized effort by “extremists and oppressive forces” to attack the demonstrators.

They added: “This kind of action is only befitting of an illegitimate government that just allows its supporters to stage demonstrations.”

All public rallies staged by the opposition in the past year has been confronted with fierce violence from government forces.

Ten reformist parties also applied for a demonstration permit on June 12 and announced that the government created “unnecessary red tape” in order to avoid a timely response to their application.

The opposition claims that such a peaceful rally is their legal right according to the Article 27 of the Islamic Republic constitution.