Merkel Likens Iran To Repressive East Germany

BERLIN (AFP) - German Chancellor Angela Merkel on Thursday likened events in Iran to the oppression at the hands of the Stasi secret police in communist East Germany, where she grew up.

"I know from the time of the GDR (East Germany) how important it was that people around the world made sure that the people stuck in (Stasi prisons) Bautzen and Hohenschoenhausen ... were not forgotten," Merkel told parliament.

"Iran must know, particularly in the age of modern communications, that we will do everything in our power to ensure that these people (arrested in Iran during the recent turmoil) are not forgotten about," she said.

Merkel called for a "strong message" to go to Iran from a meeting of the leaders of the Group of Eight (G8) industrialised nations -- which includes Germany -- in L'Aquila, Italy next week.

"We have become witnesses to sensational and above all shocking events, and I hope that a strong message of unity emerges out the (G8) summit, unity that demonstrations, civil rights and human rights are indivisible, and that this also applies to Iran," Merkel said.