Students against Iranian regime

Students from the University of Oslo (UiO) took part in demonstrations against the Iranian regime in connection with the EU summit in Brussels this Monday. Studenter for fritt Iran, the Iranian student union at UiO, was among the hosts of this event. Teamed up with thousands of exile Iranians and activists in Europe and the US, they marked their contempt for what they believe is Iranian ambitions to use nuclear weapons.

– Not legitimate

Prior to the demonstration, Studenter for fritt Iran organised a press conference in order to announce their reaction to the Iranian President’s recent statement regarding «Israel should be erased from the map», a statement that was met with worldwide repugnance, and it was also condemned by the UN Security Council.

– We condemn the statement, and we condemn the mere fact that Mahmoud Ahmadinejads has been elected President of Iran, Said Tutunchian, leader of Studenter for fritt Iran and student of Medicine at UiO, says.

– This President used to be one of the leaders of the revolutionary army, which is designed to silence uproars, among others student demonstrations, in order to safeguard the existence of the regime, Tutunchian says to Universitas.

– Implement sanctions!

Participants at the press conference among others included former Iranian ambassador to Norway, Perviz S. Khazai, who is also leader of the National Council of Resistance of Iran (NCRI), and several Foreign Affairs politicians from the Storting.

What Norway and the international community should do to stop the Iranian regime’s breach of UN conventions was on the agenda during the press conference. Several participants spoke in favour of implementing sanctions.

– Norway can set an example, like we did during Apartheid in the Republic of South Africa by being the first country to boycott oil transport. This goes to show that we are willing to sacrifice money in order to mark our resistance towards an oppressing regime, Morten Høglund, representing the Norwegian right-wing party Fremskrittspartiet, stated during the press conference.

He is among others supported by Khazai and Studenter for fritt Iran.

– Studenter for fritt Iran is very much looking forward to such possible Norwegian measures. For starters, Norway should withdraw the government-owned companies Statoil and Norsk Hydro; initially to stop trade between Norway and Iran but eventually between Europe and Iran, Tutunchian says.