Iranians gather in Dublin to demand expulsion of diplomats

Protesters demanding the expulsion of Iranian diplomats gathered on Dublin’s O’Connell Street on Saturday.

Roshin Farahani, organiser of the Iran Solidarity Protest, said: “Why should they access the internet; and live in the free world; and live their luxurious lives in Dublin, or in Europe or the US or Canada, when people in Iran are dying.”

Iran-wide anti-government protests started on December 28, triggered by the collapse of Iran’s currency, the rial.

The demonstrations were met with a brutal response by the country’s regime that left thousands of people dead.

Information has been scarce since an internet blackout was imposed more than two weeks ago.

Ms Farahani – who is originally from Tehran but has been living in Ireland for 15 years – said what is happening is a “critical moment for the people of Iran”.

She said: “How could we stay quiet when this is a mass massacre? We are seeing a massacre by the regime of Iran.”

The group of demonstrators, numbering a few dozen, stood by the spire with placards and Iranian flags. They chanted in Farsi and English, played music and delivered speeches.

Protester Milad Mohebbi said he had joined the demonstration as “Iran is my homeland, but the Islamic regime is not, is not the government that should be ruling my country”.

He said most of his friends at home had taken part in the protests and while he has managed to get in touch with some of them despite the blackout, he does not know if the rest are safe.