An Iranian lawmaker has slammed the recent crackdown by British police against students protesting the government's plan to triple tuition fees, saying London has a dual stance on democracy, Press TV reported.
"The attitude towards students in London shows contradictions in Western states regarding democracy. They have not been able to fulfill their claims yet," a member of the Presiding Board of the Iranian Parliament (Majlis) Mohammad Hossein Farhangi told IRNA on Thursday.
He added that people in these countries have a "natural right" to stage union protests and said, "Countries which claim that are democratic and regard themselves as the model of civil freedom adopted violent attitude as if a revolution is underway in their country."
The Iranian lawmaker pointed out that Western media make extra efforts to exaggerate minor issues in Iran "but invite their media to keep silent on blatant human rights violation in their soil."
Meanwhile, another Iranian lawmaker Mohammad Hossein Nejad-Fallah on Thursday criticized the UK police crackdown against students which "questioned the British leaders' slogan of democracy and human rights."
"The attitude of the British police to students showed that stick and whip are the symbols of the country's human rights," he told IRNA.
He emphasized that British leaders who present themselves as the main supporters of human rights should be held accountable for violent acts against students in the country.
"Dual attitude and performance of leaders of Britain and the US proved to the world that their slogans of democracy and human rights are deceits and lies," Nejad-Fallah went on to say.
The remarks by the two Iranian lawmakers came after British Ambassador to Tehran Simon Gass, in a web posting on December 9, accused Iran of violating human rights regulations, demonstrating yet another case of London's double standards towards Iran.
Following the British diplomat's commentary, Majlis National Security and Foreign Policy Commission passed a resolution on Sunday, after hours of deliberation, recommending severance of all ties with the United Kingdom.
Iran has considered breaking off relations with Britain several times due to London's persistence in following a meddlesome and undiplomatic approach towards Tehran.
Gass' brazen remarks came at a time when the British police were engaged in a brutal crackdown on peaceful student protests in the UK.
His remarks drew massive criticism from Iranian authorities, who cited the move as "blatant interference" in Iran's internal affairs.
Many students that took part in protest rallies against sharp tuition fee hikes were severely assaulted and detained by British police.
Iran slams UK dual stance on democracy
An Iranian lawmaker has slammed the recent crackdown by British police against students protesting the government's plan to triple tuition fees, saying London has a dual stance on democracy.
