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PARIS — The son of the deposed shah of Iran urged nations worldwide on Thursday to withdraw their ambassadors from Tehran to protest a relentless government crackdown on opposition demonstrators that resulted in at least eight deaths this week alone.
Reza Pahlavi, who has lived in exile since his father was toppled in the 1979 Islamic revolution, also appealed in a letter to U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki-Moon for a U.N. investigation into human rights violations during the unrest.
In an interview with the Associated Press, Pahlavi equated the climate of the unrest in his homeland with the "revolutionary atmosphere" that preceded the fall of his father from the Peacock Throne 30 years ago, when the monarchy was replaced by an Islamic republic. The difference, he said, is that this time the people know what they want — a secular democracy.
At least eight people died during protests Sunday, and hundreds were arrested in the worst unrest since the aftermath of June's disputed presidential election.
Pahlavi said that recalling ambassadors would be a "minimal but clear indication" by U.N. member states of their support for the rights of Iranian citizens and objections to violations of these rights by Iranian authorities.
Meanwhile, Iran's opposition leaders faced new threats Thursday with the state prosecutor warning they could be put on trial if they do not denounce this week's anti-government protests.
Police firing tear gas and wielding batons dispersed opposition supporters trying again Thursday to gather in two locations in central Tehran, said an opposition Web site called the Green Road. Police detained many of them, it said. The information could not be independently confirmed due to restrictions barring journalists from reporting on opposition activity in the streets.
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