Iranian opposition groups protest against Zarif's presence in Sweden
A group of Iranians living in Sweden demonstrated against the presence of the Iranian foreign minister in the country. Police arrested about 30 protesters. Mehrdad Darvishpour, a sociologist and one of the participants in the demonstration, explained this to DW.
Demonstrations by a group of Iranians living in Sweden in protest of the visit of Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif continued on the second day of his presence in front of the Swedish Foreign Ministry, Parliament, and the Cypress Institute on Wednesday, August 21.
Swedish police have arrested nearly 30 Iranian demonstrators in front of the Cypress Institute.
Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif gave a speech at the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (Sypris) on Wednesday, August 21.
Mehrdad Darvishpour, a sociologist based in Sweden, told DW that police later released those detained.
Mr. Darvishpour also said about the different groups that participated in the protests: "There were leftists, Mujahedin, monarchists, and republicans in the demonstrations. There were two types of approaches in these demonstrations: One was that they opposed this meeting and said that Zarif's invitation was a kind of "slap on the Iranian people." While the people are being suppressed and pressured, Sweden has somehow taken their stick. Another group had a different view and approach, like us, who did not enter into the discussion of whether or not Zarif was invited. We are against war and military attack, and as a result, we said that this opportunity should be used to put pressure on the Islamic Republic, and we emphasized that the issue of human rights should not be marginalized in the negotiations."
Darvishpour continued to emphasize: "Protest movements continued even in front of the Zarif Hotel, and there was a widespread protest in the Swedish Parliament. A high-ranking representative of the Swedish Social Democratic Party, the ruling party, wrote a letter stating that pressure on Iran should be increased."
Zarif meets with Iranians living in Sweden
The Fars News Agency reported that the Iranian Foreign Minister met with a group of Iranians living in Sweden on Monday evening, August 19, and spoke with them about various issues, including the pressure of sanctions, regional issues, INSTEX, and the role of Iranians abroad.
Darvishpour told DW about the meeting that “a very small group of capitalists spoke with the Iranian Foreign Minister, and this issue has nothing to do with the 80,000-strong Iranian community in Sweden.” Darvishpour went on to emphasize that the majority of the Iranian community in Sweden is opposed to not negotiating on human rights under the pretext of sanctions and pressure on Iran.
He continued: "This was a meeting that took place inside the embassy, and Mr. Zarif met with a number of Iranian capitalists and asked them to help expand investment in Iran and somehow reduce the pressure of sanctions. These are a certain and limited number of supporters of the regime who benefit from huge investments."
Continuing his remarks, Darvishpour, while referring to Zarif's role, explained: "Mr. Zarif plays the role of a sycophant of the Islamic Republic of Iran, and his approach is such that he tried to deny human rights violations in Iran and justify Iran's interventionist policies in the region. The anger of the Iranian society has been aroused, and they are not interested in strengthening relations with Sweden and their presence in Sweden."
According to Mehrdad Darvishpour, the issue of protesting against the Islamic Republic has become the most important news in the Swedish media, and as a result of these protests, representatives of left-wing parties and the ruling Social Democratic Party have increased pressure on Iran.
Source: DW
