On Thursday, February 4, Iranian citizens held at least five rallies in different provinces, protesting officials’ failure to respect their inherent rights. Farmers, landowners, stockholders, women, and poultry farmers took part in the protests.
In response to the peaceful protests, officials were either indifferent to the protesters’ demands or called on oppressive forces to quell the protests. For instance, despite the ongoing protests of farmers and landowners, the government has yet to do anything to resolve these people’s problems.
On the other hand, in Hormozgan province, government-backed individuals called on the security forces to suppress protesters when local women raised their voices against the illegal confiscation of their lands. At the event, oppressive forces ruthlessly beat the defenseless women and did not show mercy even to older or pregnant women.
Rally of Farmers
Sistan and Baluchestan province—farmers in Zahedan, the province’s capital, held a rally at a farm. Protesters expressed their anger over the water shortage and officials’ negligence about their dilemmas. “Cry of hungry farmers,” farmers had written on a placard.
#IranProtests#SistanAndBaluchestan—farmers of Zahedan city rallied at their lands, protesting officials' negligence about their dilemmas. These toiler people suffer from water shortage and have lost their business due to drought.
This is while the province recently faced floods. pic.twitter.com/8hG1QMMnsT— IranNewsUpdate (@IranNewsUpdate1) February 5, 2021
They demanded officials help them in such dire circumstances. In response, neither Governor Ahmad-Ali Mohebati nor Mayor Abdolbagher Porbar did anything to ease protesters’ dilemmas.
“We are farmers and have no income. Since the beginning of the coronavirus, our daily meal has become breadcrumbs. We have neither insurance nor salaries. We hope to make ends meet through our lands, but they have been dried. We urge the Governor and Mayor to pay attention to our dilemmas,” protesters said.
Rally of Siah Kouh Landowners
Tehran province—a group of landowners in the Siah Kouh region in Robat Karim district held a rally at an estate. They protested Hassan Nowruzi, MP of Robat Karim, for illegal confiscation of their lands. Nowruzi has impounded these areas under the excuse of frosting.
#IranProtests#Tehran—landowners of Siah Kouh region in Robat Karim district rallied at their estates, protesting MP Hassan Nowruzi for illegal confiscations of their lands.
This MP has confiscated people's properties for foresting. pic.twitter.com/r7c2RKzD8k— IranNewsUpdate (@IranNewsUpdate1) February 5, 2021
Notably, this MP has seized around 700 hectares of land, which belong to 5,000 people in this area. Earlier, on January 15, these people had rallied in this context. However, the government did nothing for these impoverished citizens.
Rally of Stockholders
Tehran province—shareholders of Tehran Stock Market (Bourse) held a rally in front of the General Inspection Organization. They protested officials’ failure to return their properties and money. “Zealous compatriot, support us,” protesters chanted.
#IranProtests#Tehran—shareholders of Stock Market once again held a rally, protesting officials' failure to return their properties. They rallied in front of the General Inspection Organization, chanting, "Zealous compatriot, support us." pic.twitter.com/2asOmNzEyP
— IranNewsUpdate (@IranNewsUpdate1) February 5, 2021
Back in 2019, high-ranking officials, including Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei and President Hassan Rouhani, encouraged citizens to invest in the Stock Market (Bourse). However, they refuse to take responsibility for the bourse’s failure. Citizens believe that the bourse was the government’s trick to collect people’s money and compensate for its massive budget deficits.
Women Protest Impounding Their Lands
Hormozgan province—women of Zahbodi village in Bashagerd district flooded to their lands, protesting and preventing officials from impounding their farms. Officials claimed that “they would like to establish a Sunraysia solar farm.” However, they illegally confiscated locals’ farms.
#IranProtests #Hormozgan—women of Zahbodi village in Bashagerd district protested officials for impounding their lands for creating a Sunraysia solar farm.
In response, security forces attacked protesters and severely beat defenseless women, including old women and one pregnant. pic.twitter.com/fm32TKQrYA— IranNewsUpdate (@IranNewsUpdate1) February 5, 2021
In response to the women’s protest, officials dispatched the State Security Forces (SSF) to suppress the defenseless women. Oppressive forces mercilessly attacked and beat the protesters.
“I just protested illegal confiscation of our lands, but the SSF attacked and beat us,” said a woman.
“I am six months pregnant. However, the SSF sprayed pepper spray in my face and beat me on my side with a metal stick,” another woman explained.
Rally of Poultry Farmers
Tehran province—a group of poultry farmers held a rally in front of the new building of the Agricultural Ministry. They wanted to visit the minister and express their anger directly.
#IranProtests #Tehran—poultry farmers rallied in front of the Agricultural Ministry, protesting the low-price of their production, high expenditures of farms, and the ministry's failure to purchase their products at an appropriate price. pic.twitter.com/bGkYUpkAOL
— IranNewsUpdate (@IranNewsUpdate1) February 5, 2021
The problems of providing poultry feed, high expenditures of poultry farms, and the ministry’s failure to purchase farmers’ products at an appropriate price led these people to protest. “Until 5:00 pm, the minister did not visit them,” protesters said.
Iranians Continue Protests; at Least Six Rallies and Strikes on February 3
