During the demonstrations on Saturday, protesters temporarily took down Iran’s flag at the London embassy and replaced it with an older flag that was in use before 1979, according to witnesses.
A video shared on social media shows a man on the embassy’s balcony near Hyde Park swapping the current flag for the emblem that represented the ousted Shah’s regime as hundreds of demonstrators cheered below.
This particular flag is a tricolor design featuring a lion and sun, which was a ceremonial symbol in Iran prior to the Islamic Revolution.
Eyewitnesses noted that the old flag stayed up for several minutes before being taken down.
“Democracy for Iran. Shah Reza Pahlavi. Justice for Iran,” protesters chanted, referencing the son of Iran’s last Shah, who currently resides in the U.S. Some participants carried signs proclaiming “Free Iran.”
“I’m here to support my friends and family in Iran, who have been protesting for two weeks now,” said Taraneh, a 33-year-old demonstrator who preferred not to give her last name.
“The internet is shut down… so, there’s hardly any information coming from inside Iran,” she remarked.
“But still, people are on the streets. They are being attacked. The Islamic Republic is targeting people,” she continued. “I want to see this regime abolished. I just want to return home.”
London’s police authorities announced they had increased patrols to “prevent any disruption” and to ensure the safety of the Iranian embassy following the flag incident.
They apprehended two individuals: one on suspicion of aggravated trespass and assaulting an emergency worker, and another for aggravated trespassing, while also looking for a third person involved.
Protests have been ongoing in Iran since December 28, spreading throughout the country.
What started as a response to currency devaluation and rising living costs has transformed into widespread demonstrations demanding the end of the Islamic Republic.
With Iranian authorities cutting off internet access, NGOs and human rights groups are expressing concerns that the blackouts might be used to suppress protests.
According to a Norway-based NGO, Iranian Human Rights, at least 51 individuals, including nine children, have lost their lives, and hundreds have been injured.
