The Hill, January 2, 2018 – German Foreign Minister Sigmar Gabriel on Monday called on the Iranian government to respect the rights of protesters who have taken to the streets, hours after Israel criticized European leaders as being silent about the demonstrations.
“We call on the government to respect demonstrators’ freedom of assembly + their right to give voice to their opinion freely, peacefully. Following confrontation of past days, all the more important for all sides to refrain from taking any violent action,” Garbriel said in a statement.
“We call on the government to respect demonstrators’ freedom of assembly + their right to give voice to their opinion freely+peacefully. Following confrontation of past days, all the more important for all sides to refrain from taking any violent action,” Garbriel said in a statement.
At least 10 people were killed in Iran on Sunday after protesters took to the streets for the fourth consecutive day. The demonstrations are being fueled by economic hardship in the country and outrage over alleged government corruption.
Some protesters in the country’s capital reportedly chanted “death to Rouhani,” referring to Iran’s President Hassan Rouhani, and “death to the dictator,” referring apparently to Iran’s supreme leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei.
President Trump has sent out several tweets in support of the protests since they began. On Monday, he said Iran is “failing on every level,” adding that it is “time for change.” His remarks have generally received praise from other U.S. lawmakers.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Sunday wished protesters success and lamented that European leaders haven’t spoken out in support of the demonstrations.
Prior to Gabriel’s statement, British Foreign Secretary Boris Johnson said citizens should have “the right to demonstrate peacefully.”
