Iranian students gather to demand free speech

TEHRAN, Dec 6 (Reuters) More than 300 pro-reform Iranian students chanting ''We only want freedom!'' protested in Tehran today, demanding greater freedom of expression, Iran's student news agency ISNA reported.

Students have been at the forefront of sporadic protests against Iran's clerical system of government during the past seven years.

But student activism has been muted since President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad took power in August last year vowing a return to Islamic revolutionary principles.

''We only want freedom of expression and independent factions,'' shouted the students who gathered at Tehran University to mark Iran's annual Students Day today.

Police blocked off roads surrounding the campus. But they made no move toward the students. The gathering ended without clashes.

Student activists say that since Ahmadinejad's election 181 students have been summoned to university disciplinary boards and 105 of them were suspended as part of a crackdown against reform-minded students.

''We want all students to be able to register. We want political groups to act freely at universities,'' said Mehdi Aminzadeh, who is among a handful students who activists say are still barred from registering.

Ali Nikounesbati, a member of the Office to Foster Unity, a leading pro-reform student group, criticised what he called restriction of university activists.

Activists say as well as clamping down on students, critical professors have been pushed into early retirement.

Ahmadinejad has called for students to denounce professors sullying the Islamic Republic's universities with ''secularism''.

The government insists it welcomes criticism and encourages free speech. University officials say only those students who break rules will be punished.

Reuters BDP DB2249