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Iran Focus
 Tehran, Iran, Jul. 20 – A Tehran
district mayor’s decision to destroy makeshift accommodation in a shanty town
on the outskirts of the capital led to pitch battles between government
agents and residents on Tuesday.
Armed troops of the State Security Forces and agents of the local city
council moved into the impoverished district of Qiyam-Dasht
in the suburbs of Tehran to arrest construction workers
putting up buildings for homeless residents.
A large crowd gathered and residents refused to succumb to the strong-armed
tactics of the assailants. Scuffles broke out between government agents and
angry protestors. At least one vehicle belonging to the city council was set
on fire.
During the clashes, people threw bricks and stones at government-owned
buildings and set fire to banks and parts of the town hall in the shanty
town.
Special anti-riot SSF forces were called in to prevent the spread of
protests. Several agents of the security forces and the city council were
wounded in the ensuing clashes and were transported to the town’s local
hospital. A number of construction workers were also injured with two
reportedly in critical condition.
Locals claimed that checkpoints had been set up in the main routes in and out
of the town over the past few days and that people were being searched and
harassed by the government to prevent the transport of construction tools
into the town.
The mayor of Qiyam-Dasht said yesterday that those
involved in construction in the town were acting against the law and would
face serious consequences
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