Protests in Iranian Cities of Esfahan and Tehran Against Acid Attacks on Women

In recent days thousands of people took to the streets to protest against recent chain of acid attacks on women in the city of Esfahan. Reports, films and photos on facebook shows people's anger at the inability or reluctance of the police and security forces to catch the criminals who have targeted innocent women without provocation and burnt and disfigured them for life.

Also inTehran, hundreds of women's rights activists and their sympatisers assembled in front of the Islamic parliament, holding placards which read their demands to stop legislation which target women . While this gathering was peaceful, a number of men who had come to support women were isolated and beaten up and roads to the parliament were blocked to prevent more people to join the demonstrators.

In Esfahan, protestors were chanting slogans while marching towards the main bourvard , when they were stopped by riot police who threw tear gas at them and attacked them indiscriminately. Films taken by protestors show some young women crying after the assault.

It is reported that a number of suspects have been arrested but even if it is true and the perpetrators are caught and punished victims' lives would never be the same. Acid burns the skin and disfigures the victim for life. A number of victims have lost their sight irreversibly.

These chain of attacks on women are part of schemes to isolate and drive women into home and away from the society. It also coincides with rulings by the Iranian parliament to give further power to the forces who control people's lives inside and outside their homes.