Iranian demonstrators clash over jailing of liberal
cleric
TEHRAN, May 9 (AFP) - Iranian fundamentalists disrupted a demonstration
by moderate students on Sunday over the jailing of a liberal cleric accused
of spreading propoganda hostile to the Islamic regime.
Around 700 students gathered at Tehran university to call for the release
of Mohsen Kadivar, a leading light of the reform movement in Iran who
began an 18-month jail term last month.
But scuffles broke out when around 40 militant fundamentalists turned
up, shouting "death to Kadivar" and "Kadivar must be executed."
Police were not allowed to enter the university grounds but arrested
several people from both groups as they left the campus.
Kadivar, also a university professor, was detained in February for writing
a number of articles calling for political life in the Islamic republic
to have more autonomy from religion.
He was sentenced in April by a special court dealing with offences by
members of the clergy.
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