ODVV’s Statement on Iran November Protests

The recent protests against the increase in petrol price, inflicted lots of financial and physical damages to people, and caused destruction of public property and spread of violence.
Many social and political analysts believe that the events are rooted in lack of suitable space for expression of discontent in the society. Also, the protests are strongly believed to be rooted in economic pressures on people; United States’ inhuman sanctions imposed on Iran and the organized misdeeds of some regional and foreign powers. The root causes lead to spread of protests that in some instances turned into violence, vandalism, and clashes between the protestors and the police. Once again, the events are reminding the decision-makers, the government and the civil society of the need for exercising and protecting the right to peaceful protest.
At the moment, the need to avoid violence, bridging social inequalities, and preservation of national unity are deemed as the ongoing urgencies of society. All those who are concerned about Iran must avoid violent actions and stress on the rule of law through conciliation and tolerance. ODVV calls upon decision-making bodies to open suitable space for peaceful protests in the country and adopt the draft legislation that guarantees freedom of association and demonstrations (1) as quickly as possible, which is clearly been mentioned in article 27 of the Constitution.
ODVV deems the use of economic sanctions by the United States as tools of putting maximum economic pressure on the Iranian people as one of the main causes of the recent protests, and will continue its campaign to make the effects of such illegal and inhuman measures transparent for the international community.ODVV also calls upon the government to accelerate the implementation of the National Security Supreme Council’s “decision” for compensating the losses of the victims of the recent violence.

1- https://bit.ly2YqQ13O