On January 13, Iranian citizens continued protests, strikes, and rallies to achieve their inherent rights. Despite the coronavirus outbreak, needy people have found protests as the main instrument to take back their plundered rights.
In this respect, job-seeker youths, municipal workers, sport team owners, and impoverished people held at least four rallies in different cities. Fearing the spark of a new round of nationwide protests, the regime’s oppressive apparatuses try to nip any objection in the bud.
For instance, the State Security Forces (SSF) attacked job-seeker youths in Khuzestan province, dispersed the rally of sport team owners in Mazandaran province, and immediately raided Ofogh Market to quell citizens’ protests against the Revolutionary Guards (IRGC) as the owner of the market.
SSF Attacks Job-Seeker Youths
Khuzestan province—the SSF and security agents of Salman Farsi Sugarcane Complex attacked job-seeker youths in Abu Sakhir village. Oppressive forces’ brutal assault prompted young people to resist, leaving several injuries among youths. Moreover, the SSF detained some protesters and transferred them to a police station.
Some while ago, government-linked individuals confiscated Iranian Arab citizens’ lands, vowing to create jobs and recruit their children. Eventually, the individuals established Salman Farsi Sugarcane Complex, but they broke their promises.
#IranProtests on January 13:#Khuzestan—oppressive forces’ brutal assault prompted young people to resist, leaving several injuries among youths. Moreover, the SSF detained some protesters and transferred them to the police station. pic.twitter.com/j98rv7KAL9
— IranNewsUpdate (@IranNewsUpdate1) January 13, 2021
In Khuzestan, despite the province’s huge natural resources, many people live far below the poverty line. Despite the province’s large industrial capacity, many young people are unemployed, and their cries for employment have remained fruitless.
In this respect, youths gathered in front of refinery plants and other factories to win jobs. However, their relentless efforts have yet to succeed. This is while the employers recruit non-native forces instead of local people.
Youth Unemployment in Iran Ranks Second After Undeveloped Countries
On the other hand, the companies, which have been privatized, refuse to pay their workers’ salaries and pensions, putting workers and their families in dire living conditions. In addition to the private sector, the Education Ministry has yet to recruit many teachers, trainers, preschool educators, and members of the literacy movement officially, which has deprived them of regular privileges.
Worse, government-linked employers and entities affiliated with administrative officials use the SSF to quell objections and coerce their employees to acquiesce to their unfair conditions. The SSF’s attack on Abu Sakhir’s young people is the latest instance of these oppressive and plundering policies.
Rally of Municipal Workers
Kohgiluyeh and Boyer Ahmad province—in an unjust act, Yasouj Municipality fired several workers due to their protests. According to the dismissed workers, the municipality has refused to pay their salaries for five months, and when they raised their voice for their overdue rights, officials fired them.
#IranProtests#KohgiluyehAndBoyerAhmad—on January 13, fired workers of Yasouj Municipality held a rally, demanding their overdue rights. Some while ago, the workers protested officials' failure to pay their salaries for five months. In response, the Municipality fired protesters. pic.twitter.com/M0rOeZVCnh
— IranNewsUpdate (@IranNewsUpdate1) January 13, 2021
In this respect, fired workers held a rally in front of the municipality, demanding their plundered rights. “Everywhere, employees receive 40 million rials [$160] per month. However, municipality officials gave us half of this amount. This is oppression. No one aids us. We called the Broadcasting Organization (IRIB), we told officials, but they did nothing. No one is accountable,” a worker said.
Rally of Sports Team Owners
Mazandaran province—in Fereydounkenar city, owners of sports teams held a rally in front of the local Governorate. They protested the shutdown of sports stadiums for six months. However, the SSF prohibited the protesters from gathering.
#IranProtests#Mazandaran—several sport team owners in Fereydounkenar city held a rally protesting officials for shutting down sports stadiums for six months.
The State Security Forces dispersed protesters' rally.
"Sport=Health and Sport is anti-#coronavirus," their banner read. pic.twitter.com/AFjIDbwyVz— IranNewsUpdate (@IranNewsUpdate1) January 13, 2021
“Why must sports facilities remain shut down despite observing health protocols?” they wrote on a banner. “Sport = health, sport = anti-coronavirus,” another banner read.
Locals Protest Ofogh Market Cheating
Kerman province—in Rafsanjan city, the SSF banned impoverished people from standing in queues for cooking oil. Due to the shortage of essential goods, people must spend a lot of time in front of markets such as the IRGC-controlled Ofogh market.
#IranProtests#Kerman—on January 13, impoverished people in Rafsanjan protested the profiteering decision of the IRGC-controlled Ofogh market.
The market sells each cooking oil bottle for $0.80 while the company has registered $0.70 for consumers. pic.twitter.com/Mhit27ehuq— IranNewsUpdate (@IranNewsUpdate1) January 14, 2021
The people protested the market owners for cheating and failing to provide people’s necessities. Afterward, the SSF raided the place, accusing impoverished people of rioting and questioning, “Why you have gathered here?”
The people reckoned that the factory has set the price of 176,000 rials [$0.70] for consumers; however, the Ofogh owners have factored 199,000 rials [$0.80] per each container of oil.
Iranians Continue Protests; at Least Five Rallies and Strikes on January 12
