Student protests that followed a surprise police raid on a Tehran University dormitory have rattled hard-line leaders and may represent a groundswell of support for a more democratic society. Some 10,000 students gathered over the weekend of July 9-11 to protest the police action and to support moderate President Mohammad Khatami. Travel to Iran has opened up this year, but this development could indicate an intensifying power struggle between hard-liners of the Iranian revolution and supporters of reform and moderation, which seems to include a majority of Iran’s youth.
