Iranian Women Arrested over Protest

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The women were protesting the trial of five other would-be protesters who were on trial for organizing a rally against laws that discriminate against women.

The five have been charged with endangering national security, propaganda against the state and taking part in an illegal gathering.

International outrage has come from many groups, especially the US-based Human Rights Watch, to end the prosecution and stop discriminatory laws of the nation.

The 5 on trial were arrested following the rally in which the police used excessive force and arrested more than 70 people--most of which weren't even part of the rally.

According to an Iranian expert working for the BBC, nearly all of the the leaders of the Iranian women's rights movement have been arrested.

The original aim of the women is to draw attention to discriminatory Islamic laws on polygamy and child custody that often cause great suffering to women. This latest protest was highlighted by signs saying that they "had the right to peacefully protest."

This is just the latest in a long string of Women's rights violations and authoritarian abuses by the Iranian police and government upon its citizens. International groups continue to appeal for the government to drop the charges, but it seems the appeals are falling on deaf ears.

When journalists arrived on the scene the police, apparently, chased them away while threatening force.