Iran: religion, state, education

Several hundred supporters of Teheran ayatollah Kazemeyni Boroujerdi gathered today in the streets around his house to protest what they described as violation of "freedom of religion." .
They were trying to prevent the arrest of Boroujerdi by security forces.
Boroujerdi advocates the separation of religion from politics.
One of his supporters told that during the past two months there have been several attempts to arrest the ayatollah.
Iran's ILNA news agency reported that police used tear gas to disperse the protest but protesters resisted by burning tires to counteract the effects of the gas.
In recent weeks more then 40 of his supporters have been arrested and taken to Evinprison.
The ayatollah told RFE/RL among other things, that in the past 14 years, he has been summoned on numerous occasions to the Special Court for Clergy and spent months in prison.




At St. Andrews University, there is unrest against the decision to award an honorary degree to former Iranian president Muhammad Khatami.
Human rights groups criticises this decision because during his eight-year term thousands of iranians were jailed and tortured.
The National Union of Students wants his invitation withdrawn unless Ahmad Batebi, is freed.
The Board of Deputies of British Jews criticises the invitation, because of the fact Khatami likes Hezbollah.
Iranian exiles have drawn up a petition demanding St Andrews withdraw the invitation.
Khatami will open the university’s Institute for Iranian Studies, donated by Sadegh Kharazi, Iran’s former ambassador to France. The collection of Iranian texts, the largest of its kind in Europe, is estimated to be worth more than £100,000.
St Andrews Univerity said that the invitation was conferred only after the widest consultation with experts in modern Iran.



In Iran deathpenalty is in use. Also for child offenders.

Children are being hanged to death.
A child will be hanged to death.
Poster amnesty.nl