Some 300 people took to the streets of Geneva on Saturday despite the cold, calling for democracy in Iran and more action against its regime from the Swiss government.
This content was published on
1 minute
Keystone-SDA/jc
Braving a strong wind, they chanted “Woman, life, freedom” in French, English, Persian and Kurdish. Their placards included “Down with dictatorship, for a democratic Iran”, “Stop executions immediately” and “Against the dictatorship of the mullahs”.
More than 500 people have died in Iran, thousands have been injured and imprisoned since the death of a young Kurdish woman, Jina Mahsa Amini, in the custody of the morality police who said she was not wearing her headscarf properly. Protests in Iran have met with state violence. There have also been protests around the world against the Islamic regime in Tehran.
As a depositary of the Geneva Conventions, “the City of Geneva strongly condemns this violence”, Geneva mayor Marie Barbey-Chappuis told the demonstrators, assuring them of the city’s support in their cause.
Associations and trade unions who organised the demonstration are calling for Switzerland to take strong action against Tehran, including expulsion of diplomatic representatives, freezing the assets of the regime’s dignitaries and classifying the Revolutionary Guards as a terrorist organisation.
Popular Stories
More
Banking & Fintech
Luxury heir claims his CHF11 billion Hermès fortune has vanished
What can be done to protect biodiversity in your country?
Swiss voters are set to decide on a people’s initiative calling for better protection of ecosystems in the country. Have your say on the September 22 vote.
Swiss investigate four people linked to Russian oligarch
This content was published on
The Office of the Attorney General of Switzerland is investigating four individuals linked to Russian oligarch Suleyman Kerimov.
Swiss government scrambles to deal with egg shortage
This content was published on
From September 1, more eggs intended for consumption may be imported into Switzerland. In allowing this, the government wants to secure the supply of eggs for consumers.
This content was published on
Agricultural research sees new development opportunities for Swiss sparkling wines in the face of declining wine consumption. In a survey, half of consumers expressed a willingness to pay more for local products than for foreign ones.
Locarno spotlights filmmakers from South America and Caribbean
This content was published on
The Open Doors section of the Locarno Film Festival has named the winners for 2024. The spotlight is on the South American and Caribbean regions.
Storm paralyses trains to popular Swiss tourist resort
This content was published on
The railway line between Zweilütschinen and Grindelwald in central Switzerland is expected to remain closed until Friday following heavy rains.
You can find an overview of ongoing debates with our journalists here . Please join us!
If you want to start a conversation about a topic raised in this article or want to report factual errors, email us at english@swissinfo.ch.