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Show solidarity with the protesters in Iran and Ukraine: Demonstrators in downtown Cologne
Photo: Marius Becker / dpa
Thousands of people marched through downtown Cologne under the title "March for Freedom".
The blue and yellow flags of Ukraine were waved next to the green, white and red flags of Iran.
The protesters have supported the system-critical protests in Iran.
At the same time, they have called for help for war-torn Ukraine.
The rally was organized by the German-Ukrainian association Blau-Gelbes Kreuz, among others.
Largest joint protest action to date
The demonstrators called for more pressure on the Iranian government to release political prisoners, but also for more military support to Ukraine and tougher sanctions against Russia.
It is the second demo in Cologne in recent weeks against the violent suppression of anti-system protests in Iran.
Thousands of people had taken to the streets the week before.
This Saturday, demonstrators from Iran and Ukraine protested together.
The organizers announced that there has never been such a large joint action by people from both countries.
The Mayor of Cologne, Henriette Reker, thanked the participants for taking to the streets together for human rights and peace, reports the Tagesschau.
Demo also at the Brandenburg Gate
In Berlin, too, people took to the streets again on Saturday for changes in Iran.
According to police estimates, around 150 people gathered at the Brandenburg Gate in the afternoon.
At the Werderscher Markt near the Foreign Office, the police initially assumed around 120 participants.
The actions with significantly more people had been registered.
In Iran, there have been repeated protests against the authoritarian course of the government in recent weeks.
The trigger was the death of 22-year-old Mahsa Amini.
The police arrested her for allegedly not wearing her headscarf properly.
Since her death, thousands of people across the country have been protesting against the repressive course of the local government and the Islamic system of rule.
jpa/dpa