November 29, 2009

On Friday, November 27th, the city of Salemi, in Sicily named a street Via Studenti di Teheran. The idea was put into motion by the mayor of Salemi, Vittorio Sgarbi and approved by the 18th of Tir (July 9th day of the 1999 Iranian student uprising) and the freedom of speech committees.

During the unveiling of the plaque, Sgarbi spoke: “Iranian students are willing to sacrifice their lives in order to obtain freedom and their rights and it is our duty as the citizens of free and democratic countries to stand shoulder to shoulder with them. On December 7th too, just like they have during these last months and years where they have fought for their freedom, we will lend them our unwavering support.”

Salemi is the first city in Italy and the world to name a street acknowledging the struggle of the Iranian students and people for freedom.

Also in recent weeks the Italian Parliament’s Commission on Human Rights has defended the actions of the the Italian ambassador and embassy  in Tehran for providing refuge and medical treatment to Iranian protestors  who were injured or in danger and were in the vicinity of the embassy during the recent months of demonstrations. The human rights commission also condemned the attack on the student dorms, as well as the fact that a number of the students had been awakened by the Basij militia and thrown out of the windows during the night.

Also mentioned in the statement by the Parliamentary commission was the fact that the Italian embassy has issued more visas for Iranians than any other country in the world.

Compiled and translated from Persian to English by Planet Iran staff