Students invite opposition leaders to Tehran University

MirHosein Mousavi - Mehdi Karroubi

Over three thousand students of Tehran University have signed a petition inviting opposition leaders, MirHosein Mousavi and Mehdi Karroubi, to attend National Student Day ceremonies at their institution on December 7.

The students urge the two opposition leaders to renew their protests to the election events by attending the ceremonies, and to reaffirm their resistance against “despotism.”

Ahmadinejad’s presidential victory in June has been disputed by MirHosein Mousavi and Mehdi Karroubi, the other candidates who claim the ballot was rigged. Mass protests following the elections were violently confronted by government forces. University students all across the country have kept the fire of post-election protests going by staging peaceful protests to challenge the legitimacy of the government each time government officials visit universities.

Despite the government’s fierce threats and repeated arrests, election protesters all across the country joined street demonstrations on September 18 and November 4 to reaffirm their protests against Ahamdinejad’s government.

The opposition has announced that protesters will once more take to the streets by attending the December 7 ceremonies.

University of Tehran students caution protesters not to give up resistance. They also maintain that “over 90 percent” of university students would like Mousavi and Karroubi to attend the ceremony at Tehran University; however, due to existing limitations, it was not possible to collect all their signatures.

In the past three weeks, Iranian authorities have arrested tens of students from universities all across Iran and summoned numerous others to disciplinary committees to prevent organization of mass protests for December 7.

Human rights groups have condemned the harsh treatment of students by the Islamic Republic and called for ceasing of all hostilities against them.