This is big. Keep reading, you’ll see why.

Hundreds of women staged an unauthorized demonstration in Tehran today, protesting sex discrimination under Iran’s Islamic leadership just days before the June 17 presidential elections.

The protest was the first public display of dissent by women since the 1979 revolution, when the new regime enforced obligatory veiling. “We are women, we are the children of this land, but we have no rights,” they chanted. More than 250 marched outside Tehran University, and about 200 others demonstrated two blocks away after hundreds of riot police swarmed in and barred them from joining the main protest.

There were reports that the police clubbed several women, though there were no hospital reports of injuries. Demonstrators said they saw some women being detained and dragged away by officers. But the situation appeared to stabilize, and after about an hour of demonstrating, the women disbanded without further incident.

“We will continue such protests because it shows that women are aware of their rights,” said Roohi Afzal, 52, a translator who was at the protest. “It seems that our presence today really hurts the government, that it has deployed so many forces. Maybe it will react and respond to our demands.”

Gary Metz has a list of slogans used and a few pictures. UPDATE: He now has more up, of mothers taking part. Or would it be appropriate to call them, er, MILFs?

As he notes, this historic protest was able to pass without incident because the presidential election is only a few days away. Because of it, the international eye has focused on Iran and the regime’s every move will be scrutinized. It wants to appear like it has moderated, even reformed, its social structure. Nobody is fooled though. Not us, and not the Iranian people.

Where are the protest babes? Don’t worry, I’ve got you covered.