Home News Protests Iranians Continue Protests; at Least Six Rallies and Strikes on February 14

Iranians Continue Protests; at Least Six Rallies and Strikes on February 14

On February 14, citizens in Iran once again vented their anger over the regime’s failure and economic pressure through at least six protests.

On Sunday, February 14, citizens in Iran once again took to the streets, venting their anger over the regime’s failure and economic pressure through at least six rallies and protests in various cities, including the widespread protests of retirees and pensioners.

In this respect, retirees and pension recipients affiliated with the Social Security Organization held rallies in at least 22 cities across the country. They protested low salaries and pensions, as well as officials’ refusal to adjust their pensions based on the devaluation of the national currency and the growing inflation rate.

Furthermore, HOMA Aviation’s retirees, college professors and staff, families of the PS752 flight’s victims, heavy drivers and customers, and college personnel staged other rallies and protests in the provinces of Tehran, Razavi Khorasan, and Eastern Azarbaijan.

Widespread Protests of Retirees and Pensioners—Iranians continue protests on February 14
Widespread Protests of Retirees and Pensioners—Iranians continue protests on February 14

Widespread Protests of Retirees and Pensioners

According to the Iranian opposition coalition National Council of Resistance of Iran (NCRI), retirees and pensioners of the Social Security Organization once again held countrywide protests in at least 22 cities.

In the cities of Tehran, Tabriz, Neyshabur, Arak, Ahvaz, Kermanshah, Yazd, Khorramabad, Isfahan, Ardabil, Shush, Ilam, Qazvin, Shiraz, Karaj, Mashhad, Sanandaj, Kerman, Bojnurd, Dezful, Zanjan, and Hamedan, and Ahvaz, pensioners and retirees rallied in front of government offices. In the city of Ahvaz, protesters also marched in the streets.

“Despite the clerical regime’s suppressive measures, threats, and empty promises, a large number of social security retirees gathered in Tehran and 21 other cities in Iran to protest against inflation, unbearably high prices, and low retirement benefits,” the NCRI stated, adding the protesters were chanting, “Our enemy is right here, they lie when they say it’s America,” “Enough hollow promises, we have no food,” and “[Parliament Speaker Mohammad Bagher] Ghalibaf, come out.”

Pensioners and welfare recipients held protest rallies in several cities to reiterate their demands from the regime. In the past years, the pensioners have been regularly protesting low wages and the government’s refusal to adjust their pensions based on the devaluation of the rial and the rising inflation rate.

The Iranian opposition People’s Mojahedin Organization of Iran (PMOI/MEK) reported, “In front of the Majlis [Parliament], the protesters were chanting, ‘Enough with the tyranny, our tables are empty,’ ‘Enough with the promises, our tables are empty,’ ‘Our main demand is salaries that match the inflation rate,’ ‘We will not stop until we get back our rights,’ ‘High prices and inflation are ruining the people’s lives,’ and ‘The retirement fund has been hijacked by a bunch of thieves.’”

NCRI President-elect Maryam Rajavi saluted the deprived and defiant retirees and reiterated that they have shown their perseverance through the continuation of their protests. She also urged the youth to support the retirees’ nationwide movement, adding, “So long as this regime is in power, poverty, inflation, and unemployment, as well as corruption and repression, will continue.”

Rally of HOMA Aviation Retirees—Iranians continue protests on February 14

Rally of HOMA Aviation Retirees

Tehran province—retirees of the HOMA Aviation Company once again rallied in front of the company’s office at the main boulevard of Mehr-Abad Airport in Tehran.

They protested the government-backed company’s failure to pay their salaries. They also expressed anger at the managing board for trampling their inherent rights.

Rally of College Professors and Staff—Iranians continue protests on February 14

Rally of College Professors and Staff

Razavi Khorasan province—professors and staff of Mashhad Azad University in District – 8, held a rally in front of the university.

They protested officials for flagrant discrimination about their salaries in comparison to other government offices and staff. They also vented their anger over the regime’s failure to settle their delayed salaries during recent years.

Rally of PS752 Flight Victims’ Families—Iranians continue protests on February 14

Rally of PS752 Flight Victims’ Families

Tehran province—families of victims of the Ukrainian Airline PS752 Flight held a rally in front of the Armed Forces’ Judiciary. “Justice, justice,” protesters chanted.

On January 8, 2020, an air-defense system of the Revolutionary Guards (IRGC) shot down the passenger airplane, leading to the death of all 176 passengers and crews on board. The authorities initially denied the truth, claiming, “The plane was crushed due to a technical deficit.”

However, reliable evidence and undeniable documents, including audio files and videos, pushed the IRGC Aerospace Chief Amir-Ali Hajizadeh to admit that an IRGC anti-aircraft system had downed the plane. “It was a human error,” he justified. Since then, no one has been tried for the crime despite international calls. Instead, Iranian authorities intentionally restricted information linked to the incident, blocking the international community from launching an impartial investigation.

For more than one year, families who had lost their loved ones on the plane have continuously called for justice. However, not only did the regime not responded to families’ demands but sabotaged other countries’ efforts to discover the truth. The Iranian regime’s secrecy reveals that the high-ranking officials had been involved in the crime, dissidents say.

Rally of Heavy Drivers and Customers—Iranians continue protests on February 14

Rally of Heavy Drivers and Customers

Tehran province—heavy drivers and customers held a rally in front of the SAIPA automaking company’s office. They protested the government-backed company’s failure to deliver their registered and pre-purchased vehicles. “SAIPA Diesel, shame on you, think about us,” protesters chanted.

These people had registered for heavy vehicles in 2017. However, they have yet to receive their vehicles, and the fate of their money is bleak.

Notably, the SAIPA company as Iran’s second-largest automaking company is backed by the IRGC. The IRGC’s interfere in Iran’s automaking industry has brought irreparable blows to this business and pushed many private automakers to withdraw from this industry. Furthermore, the IRGC makes massive advantages through automaking to ensure its malign behavior in other countries and fund its extremist proxies at the expense of Iranian citizens and their national assets.

Rally of College Personnel—Iranians continue protests on February 14

Rally of College Personnel

Eastern Azarbaijan province—personnel of Tabriz Azad University held a rally at the university’s facility in front of the administrative gate.

They protested officials’ failure to refine their living conditions and vented their anger over the university’s managing board for failing to balance and adjust their salaries with other public universities’ payments.

Iranians Continue Protests; at Least Four Rallies and Strikes on February 13

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