Iranian journalists who attempted to stage a demonstration in solidarity with the victims of the terrorist attack on French satirical magazine Charlie Hebdo were prevented from doing so by security forces in Tehran.

The demonstration was attempted on January 8 near the building which had housed the Association of Iranian Journalists before it was shut down by former President Mahmud Ahmadinejad’s government in August 2009, Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty reported.

A journalist, who did not want to be identified by name told RFE/RL that there was a heavy police presence on the streets leading to the Association of Iranian Journalists before the scheduled demonstration.

He said journalists had planned to put flowers and light candles in front of the association’s building as a sign of respect for the staff members of Charlie Hebdo who were killed in the January 7 attack.

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But the journalist said they were forced to leave without placing the flowers they had carried after an hour of trying to bargain with the police.

“We just wanted to express our disgust regarding the terrorist attack,” said another journalist who was planning to participate in the solidarity gathering.

Journalists and media organizations across the globe have been rallying around Charlie Hebdo over the last two days with demonstrations and other acts of solidarity.