From April 19 and 22, citizens in Iran staged at least 19 rallies and protests in various cities, venting their anger over the government’s plundering and profiteering policies. On April 21, defrauded investors of Tehran’s Stock Market took to the streets in four cities, chanting anti-establishment slogans.

Furthermore, in almost all protests and rallies, people directly addressed high-ranking officials and highlighted their contradictory claims about justice and equality.

Rally of Takht-e Jamshid Petrochemical Workers

Khuzestan province—on Thursday, April 22, a group of contract workers and employees affiliated with the Takht-e Jamshid Petrochemical Complex in the South Pars Project held a rally at this facility.

Workers demanded employers clarify their waging condition and their contracts. Back on March 7, these workers had rallied, however, employers’ indifference pushed them to protest once again.

Rally of Pharmacists

East Azarbaijan province—on Wednesday, April 21, pharmacist students in Tabriz, the province’s capital, held a rally in front of the office of the medical sciences university’s Deputy of Food and Drug.

They protested the government for tramping the pharmacists’ rights. Protesters also blamed the state-backed drugstore-holders’ association for indifference and inactivity.

Rally of Merchants

Tehran province—on Wednesday, April 21, following the shutdown of some malls, including Alaeddin Mall at Jomhouri [Republic] Street, merchants flooded onto the streets, venting their anger over the government’s oppressive measures. “Political prisoners must be freed,” protesters chanted.

These people work hard to make ends meet amid the coronavirus outbreak and despite the heavy expenditures of rent, water, electricity, gas, and taxes. The shutdown of their stores imposes backbreaking pressure on these merchants. Locals reported that the situation is tense. “Security forces detained Alaedin Mall’s manager and even its security guard,” people said.

Rally of Defrauded Investors

On Wednesday, April 21, investors of Tehran’s Stock Market staged gatherings in Tehran, Mashhad, Isfahan, and Tabriz reported the Iranian opposition People’s Mojahedin Organization of Iran (PMOI/MEK). Enraged protesters, who have lost their savings due to the government’s misleading policies, demanded officials refund their lost investments.

“Down with Rouhani,” “Down with the revolutionary Majlis [Parliament],” “We will not live under tyranny. We will give our lives for freedom,” and “We will fight, we will die, we will take back Iran,” creditors chanted.

As a common slogan, protesters in different cities chanted “We will not live under tyranny” venting their anger at the ruling system in its entirety. They announced their frustration over the government’s political games and declared, “We’ve seen no justice, we won’t vote anymore.”

Furthermore, protesters expressed their anger against the Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei, chanting, “The supreme leader’s office is silent on the theft of people’s money.” They also questioned the justice gesture of Judiciary Chief Ebrahim Raisi, chanting, “Raisi, Raisi, how could you have missed such a big thief.”

Rally of Water Staff

Khuzestan province—on Wednesday, April 21, workers and staff affiliated with the rural sector of Ahvaz’s Water and Sewage Organization held a rally in front of the organization.

They protested officials’ failure to pay their unpaid salaries and specify their job conditions. Recently, the government has dissolved the rural sector. However, it did not clarify the fate of the dissolved sector’s workers and employees yet.

Strike of Private Bus Drivers

West Azarbaijan province—on Tuesday, April 20, private bus drivers stopped working, parked their vehicles beside the streets, and launched a strike.

They protested officials’ mismanagement, leading to low incomes and high expenditures for drivers.

Strike of Petrochemical Drivers

Khuzestan province—on Tuesday, April 20, bus drivers of Bandar Mahshahr Petrochemical Plant stopped working and launched a strike.

They protested officials’ failure to designate new prices. Drivers had parked their vehicles beside the road as a sign of their protest.

 

Rally of Fired Petrochemical Workers

Ilam province—on Tuesday, April 20, fired workers of Ilam’s Petrochemical plant staged a rally in front of the Provincial Governorate.

They spread an empty tablecloth as a sign of their empty food baskets. According to official statistics, employers had fired more than 600,000 workers by April 2020 due to the coronavirus. The number has increased since then indicating millions of families have lost their incomes.

Rally of Municipal Workers

Khuzestan province—on Tuesday, April 20, workers and staff of the Choabadeh Municipality in Abadan held a rally in front of the government office.

They protested officials’ failure to pay their arrears, overdue salaries, and Nowruz bonuses. Despite their hard works, particularly amidst the coronavirus outbreak, officials refuse to pay these people driving them to much more difficulties and hardships.

Farmers’ Strike

Isfahan province—on Tuesday and Thursday, April 20 and 22, farmers from the eastern parts of Isfahan parked their tractors beside the main road, as a sign of protest.

For months, farmers staged rallies and sit-ins demanding officials respect for their water rights. However, the government has done nothing to ease farmers’ dilemmas leaving them in drought and miserable situations.

In this context, workers stopped working and left their equipment besides one of the main roads. The recent drought has led to drying farmers’ farms and annihilating their livestock.

Rally of Water Staff

Khuzestan province—on Tuesday, April 20, workers and staff of Ize’s Water and Sewage Organization staged a gathering in front of the Organization’s office.

They protested officials for failing to pay their overdue salaries for several months. In recent weeks, water and sewage staff held numerous rallies in different provinces, particularly Khuzestan, demanding their inherent rights. However, officials have yet to pay their salaries pushing them to further financial dilemmas.

Strike of Cement Workers

Isfahan province—on Monday, April 19, workers of the Sepahan cement factory in the Dizche district stopped working and launched a strike at the factory’s site.

Protesters vented their anger over the factory’s recent decision to cut workers’ pensions and refusal to increase their annual salaries.

Rally of Farmers

Isfahan province—on Monday, April 19, a group of farmers held a rally protesting officials’ failure to meet their water rights. Protesters expressed their fury against the state-backed institutions’ exploitation of the Zayandehroud river declaring their determination to continue their struggle until obtaining their rights.

“As you have filled your stomachs with illegal money, you become blind and deaf,” said a female protester addressing officials, adding “Let’s not permit the next generations to curse us for failing to return the Zayandehroud… I would never stop even if I and my children are executed between the bridges of Si-o-Se-Pol and Khajou.”

Rally of Sirjan Residents

Kerman province—on Monday, April 19, a group of the Nasr town’s residents staged a gathering in front of Sirjan’s City Council. They protested officials’ failure to provide urban services.

Given the officials’ imprudence and mismanagement, parks and greenspace sites have become dried, affecting people’s health and spirit.

Rally of Municipal Workers

Khuzestan province—on Monday, April 19, urban-service and greenspace workers of Sousangerd Municipality held a rally in front of the Provincial Governorate in Ahvaz.

Workers protested officials’ failure to pay their salaries for eight months, which has pushed impoverished workers to dire economic situations.

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