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Iran protesters condemn ‘lies’ on downed jet
Hundreds of protesters have taken to the streets in Iran’s capital, Tehran, to vent anger at officials, calling them liars for having denied shooting down a Ukrainian passenger plane.
Protests took place outside at least two universities, with tear gas reportedly fired.
US President Donald Trump tweeted support for the “inspiring” protests.
Iran on Saturday admitted downing the jet “unintentionally”, three days after the crash that killed 176 people.
Chants of میکشم، میکشم، آن که برادرم کشت – which roughly translates to “I will kill those who killed my brother.” Protests in #Iran following the government admitting it shot down the Ukrainian airliner by mistake.
Outside Amir Kabir University pic.twitter.com/c6h70Kre9n
— Nilo Tabrizy (@ntabrizy) January 11, 2020
Ukraine International Airlines flight PS752, en route to Kyiv, was shot down on Wednesday near Imam Khomeini Airport in Tehran shortly after take-off, and only hours after Iran had fired missiles at two air bases housing US forces in Iraq.
Those attacks were Iran’s response to the US killing of senior Iranian commander Qasem Soleimani in a drone strike in Baghdad on 3 January.
Dozens of Iranians and Canadians, as well as nationals from Ukraine, the UK, Afghanistan and Germany died on the plane.
What happened at the protests in Iran?
Students gathered outside at least two universities, Sharif and Amir Kabir, reports said, initially to pay respect to the victims. Protests turned angry in the evening.
The semi-official Fars news agency carried a rare report of the unrest, saying up to 1,000 people had chanted slogans against leaders and tore up pictures of Soleimani.
The students called for those responsible for the downing the plane, and those they said had covered up the action, to be prosecuted.
Chants included “commander-in-chief resign”, referring to Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei, and “death to liars”.
Fars said police had “dispersed” the protesters, who were blocking roads. Social media footage appeared to show tear gas being fired.
Social media users also vented anger at the government’s actions.
One wrote on Twitter: “I will never forgive the authorities in my country, the people who were on the scene and lying.”
The protests were, however, far smaller than the mass demonstrations across Iran in support of Soleimani after he was killed.
What has been the reaction to Iran protest?
President Trump tweeted in both English and Farsi, saying: “To the brave and suffering Iranian people: I have stood with you since the beginning of my presidency and my government will continue to stand with you.
“We are following your protests closely. Your courage is inspiring.”
The government of Iran must allow human rights groups to monitor and report facts from the ground on the ongoing protests by the Iranian people. There can not be another massacre of peaceful protesters, nor an internet shutdown. The world is watching.
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) January 11, 2020
Secretary of State Mike Pompeo tweeted video of the protests in Iran, saying: “The voice of the Iranian people is clear. They are fed up with the regime’s lies, corruption, ineptitude, and brutality of the IRGC [Revolutionary Guards] under Khamenei’s kleptocracy. We stand with the Iranian people who deserve a better future.”
