70 Iranian activists back Syrian uprising, condemn regime violence

GVF — A group of seventy Iranian intellectuals, academics and activists have condemned the ruthless suppression of anti-government protests in Syria while expressing their firm support for the pro-democracy movement in that country.

According to Iranian opposition website Tahavolesabz, in a joint statement, seventy Iranian intellectuals as well as political and human rights activists extended a message of “support” to the “people and activists of Syria” and expressed the backing for the “uprising and perseverance” shown by the Syrian nation in spite of the Assad regime’s violent crackdown on dissenters.

The letter which includes the names of renowned Iranian activists and intellectuals such as researcher Hassan Yousefi Eshkevari as well as Vice President of the International Human Rights Association (FIDH) and the President of Iran Human Rights Association, Abdolkarim Lahidji, also condemned the Syrian regime's brutal clampdown on protesters.

“We feel your hardship and closely follow the current developments in your country, we declare our unwavering support for the uprising and perseverance shown by you, the seekers of freedom, in your path towards establishing democracy and a people’s state in Syria,” they said.

The United Nations estimates some 2,700 people have been killed in Syria since the start of the anti-regime protests six months ago.

Following a call by Green Movement leaders in mid-February, Iranians poured onto the streets to express their backing for the Arab spring. Since then, opposition leaders Mahdi Karroubi and Mir Hossein Mousavi have been placed under an illegal house arrest.