Members of the Iranian-American community gather for a candlelight vigil for Iranian Neda Soltan and others killed in recent protests against result of the Iranian election, outside the White House in Washington on June 25, 2009. (UPI Photo/Alexis C. Glenn) |
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THE HAGUE, Netherlands, April 7 (UPI) -- Iranian and Dutch nationals occupied parts of the Iranian Embassy briefly in The Hague to protest oppression in Iran, protesters said.
Roughly a dozen protesters entered the embassy grounds Tuesday, occupying a section of the facility in an act of support for the suppressed people of Iran, reports Radio Zamaneh, a Persian news service in the Netherlands.
Protesters lowered the Iranian flag at the embassy and raised a flag bearing the image of Neda Ahgha Soltan, an Iranian allegedly gunned down by Iranian security forces during election unrest in Iran in June.
Demonstrators chanted Persian and Dutch slogans on the embassy grounds but were dispersed after about 15 minutes by embassy guards.
One of the leaders of the demonstration told Radio Zamaneh the fate of Iranians should not be in the hands of "dictators and the clergy." Protesters said they were demanding the release of all political prisoners in Iran.
Iran cracked down hard on political opposition as unrest unfolded after contested June presidential elections, arresting scores of opposition leaders and sentencing several to death.
Iranian nationals in 2009 protested in front of the Dutch Parliament in the wake of the June elections.