The latter was in reference to a conference Ahmadinejad spearheaded to promote the idea that the Holocaust —in which 6 million Jews were murdered by the Nazis—is a myth created to justify the existence of Israel.

According to the New York Times, some demonstrators burned the president’s picture and Ahmadinejad was forced to cut his speech short.

Unemployment is high in Iran, including for students graduating from college, which was apparently part of what fueled the protests. There is also unrest over the recent firings of university professors who hold political views at variance with the government.

The campus protest was featured on the nightly news by state television and by conservative newspapers, which is unusual.

Shortly thereafter, municipal elections took place in Iran. In the Tehran city council race, candidates associated with Ahmadinejad lost out to those of Tehran mayor Mohammad Baqer Qalibaf, who is considered a conservative. Qalibaf’s slate won eight of the 15 seats. Candidates backing Ahmadinejad won three, and "reformers"—supporters of former president Mohammed Khatami—won four.
 
 
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