While the Iranian regime does not care about the people’s dilemmas and living conditions, the people see no solution but resorting to protests to achieve their inherent rights.
In this respect, there has been no day without spontaneous protests, rallies, and strikes against the regime and its apparatuses’ functions and profiteering policies. On January 5, Iranian workers, nurses, farmers, medical staff, merchants, creditors, pensioners, and miners held rallies and strikes to obtain their basic rights.
Farmers Demand End to Extracting Zayandehroud’s Water
Isfahan province—farmers of eastern Isfahan city protested unbridled extraction of Zayandehroud river’s water for the fourth time. The regime is transferring the water of Zayandehroud to Yazd province while locals, particularly farmers, suffer from drought.
“I swear that we will destroy Yazd [water] pipe… We will not let anyone extract water from the Zayandehroud,” said a farmer vehemently.
“Mr. [Energy Minister Reza] Ardakanian, we have gathered here for the fourth time. You must know that despite the cold temperature and snow, twenty of us sabotaged your business with our shovels… You must know that we will not allow you to extract Zayandehroud water until the last drop of our blood,” the farmer said.
“The government, Ardakanian, and [Vice-President Eshaq] Jahangiri are fully responsible for these conditions. We will not allow you to extract water,” the farmer added.
“Death to those who want to invade our Zayandehroud… Death to those who do not let go of our Zayandehroud,” the crowd chanted.
Rally of Medical Staff
Khuzestan province—health staff in Ahvaz, Khuzestan’s capital, held a rally in front of the Provincial Governorate. They protested officials for changing their job conditions after five years of honorable service.
In the coronavirus pandemic, Iranian physicians, nurses, and healthcare workers not only endured the disease but also faced harm from the government’s irresponsible policies and failure to pay their meager paychecks and arrears. These selfless people also suffer from job insecurity in many areas across the country.
Rally of Shahin Car’s Customers
Tehran province—customers of Shahin Car once again staged a rally to obtain their plundered rights. On Tuesday, they held their rally in front of the National Inspection Organization. Previously, they had gathered in front of the organizations of Competition and the Iran Consumer and Producer Protection Organization (CPPO).
“With 800 million rials [$3,200], we registered for a car that was supposed to be worth 1.6 billion rials [$6,400]. Currently, they say its price is 2.7 billion rials [$10,800]” said a protester, adding, “Twice we have gathered in front of the Competition Organization, but we have received no answer,” a consumer elaborated the problem.
Rally of NIMA Creditors
Tehran province—creditor of NIMA financial website held a rally in front of the Central Bank of Iran (CBI), as the heir organization of this website. “[CBI Governor Abdolnasser] Hemmati, shame on you, let go of the website,” outraged creditors chanted.
Notably, after more than a year, the CBI still refuses to accept and compensate for around 400 manufacturer units whose owners deposited their capitals in this website. However, the NIMA website is only an instance of systematic corruption that is rampant in the entire regime.
Rally of Nurses
Khuzestan province—a group of nurses held a gathering in front of the Provincial Governorate. They protested the officials for systematic discrimination in paychecks and a decrease in their pensions. “We are medical staff, we do not accept discrimination,” they chanted.
Day-Six of Medical Staff’s Rally
Alborz province—medical and healthcare staff of Karaj’s Khomeini hospital continued their rally for the sixth consecutive day. They protested officials for failure to pay their salaries and unjust behavior.
“Promises are enough, our food baskets are empty,” “Our Lord, you help us. We can be patient no more,” and “No nation has experienced this scale of injustice,” protesting medical staff chanted at the facility.
Rally and Strike of Miners
Kerman province—a group of ‘Asminoun’ miners in Menoujan district held a rally and stopped working. The miners had previously held numerous other protests. Workers protested “changes in their contracts’ conditions, monthly expansion of contracts, managers’ pressure on workers to make a commitment not to protest, and managers’ receipt of financial promissory notes from heavy vehicles’ drivers.”
Pointing to the above instructions, a protesting miner said, “Recently, the managing board has designated new rules that are unfair.”
“Mine’s tunnels lack minimum safety. Workers go to the tunnel with his decision, but their return depends on God’s will,” another miner said.
“Welfare facilities are at the zero level, and when a miner exits the mine, he must take a shower with cold water. Miners’ transportation vehicle lacks heater, and this is another problem. Our six-month contracts first decreased to three-month contracts, then two-month, and now they have become one-month contracts,” a miner explained, adding, “Where in the world do employers make one-month deals with workers with 15 years of experience?”
Iranians Continue Protests; at Least Eight Rallies on January 4
