On Friday, February 5, Iranian citizens held at least three rallies and protests, blaming officials for failing to give them their inherent rights. In Karaj city, Alborz province, citizens vented their anger over municipal agents’ brutal behavior against a garbage collector and rescued the poor man.

Iranians Continue Protests; at Least Three Rallies and Strikes on February 5

In Mashhad city, Razavi Khorasan province, landowners protested security forces’ illegal confiscation of people’s properties. In Yasouj, Water Organization staff rallied in front of the Provincial Governorate, demanding their delayed salaries and basic rights.

Iranian officials and their oppressive apparatuses add salt to people’s injuries through their plundering policies, which have brought poverty and misery to the people.

On the other hand, they show no mercy in the face of citizens’ protests and economic grievances. This suppressive treatment just fuels public anger against the entire regime and paves the path for further protests.

Citizens Protest Municipal Agents—Iranian citizens continue protests on February 5
Citizens Protest Municipal Agents—Iranian citizens continue protests on February 5

Citizens Protest Municipal Agents

Alborz province—in Fardis district of Karaj city, the province’s capital, municipal agents attacked and beat a garbage collector under the excuse of blocking the public pavement.

Agents’ brutality prompted citizens’ anger, and passengers and bystanders eventually interfered and rescued the poor garbage collector.

Due to rampant poverty and extended unemployment among citizens, particularly young people, breadwinners are compelled to make ends meet through careers like garbage collecting.

However, not only did the government not pay attention to these needy citizens’ dilemmas, but such impoverished people are exposed to ill-treatment by different apparatuses, including municipality’ agents and the State Security Forces (SSF).

Today, the garbage-collecting phenomenon has engulfed almost all major cities. Most people who live in the slums resort to this way of life and spend their days finding something to eat or sell. The growing number of unemployed citizens has exasperated this problem.

On the other hand, to gain more advantages, a competition has shaped among mafia gangs, which are tied to the municipality and high-ranking officials. These government-backed gangs also recruit and exploit teenagers and orphans in return for a place to sleep. Instead of countering mafia gangs, municipal agents assault poor citizens under hollow pretenses mercilessly and ensure their mercenaries’ sovereignty in this profitable business.

Citizens Protest SSF’s Illegal Confiscation of Their Lands—Iranian citizens continue protests on February 5
Citizens Protest SSF’s Illegal Confiscation of Their Lands—Iranian citizens continue protests on February 5

Citizens Protest SSF’s Illegal Confiscation of Their Lands

Razavi Khorasan province—residents of the Shandiz district of Mashhad city, the province’s capital, held a gathering at their estates, protesting the SSF’s attempts to confiscate their lands illegally.

“Some years ago, the SSF had temporarily borrowed these lands, which are around 65 hectares. However, it gradually made a siege around these private properties with fences and barbed wire. The SSF later built watchtowers and unofficially conquered these properties,” said a protester.

Rally of Water Organization Staff—Iranian citizens continue protests on February 5
Rally of Water Organization Staff—Iranian citizens continue protests on February 5

Rally of Water Organization Staff

Kohgiluyeh and Boyer Ahmad province—Water Organization staff held a rally in front of the Provincial Governorate. They protested officials’ failure to pay their overdue wages for nine months.

“There is a two- or three-year contract, which has allocated the company to a contractor. We are in a dire situation. Under our contracts, we do not have job security and specified rights. The condition of our insurance is unclear. We have referred to the organization several times, but they did not meet our demands,” said a protester.

“What should we do? We are working in rural areas and impossible regions without rights. Rights for night watch and family rights did not belong to us. [Officials] have yet to deposit our salaries for eight or nine months, but they expect that we continue to work at the same time,” he added.

“For nearly six to seven months, we have come here but obtained nothing. The only change was the addition of three months to our arrears. Now, we have nine-month overdue salaries,” another protester expressed his anger at the officials’ inaction.

“We never visited the Governor [Hossein Kalanteri]. Managers frequently give promises, but we have gained nothing. We even traveled to Tehran and the Parliament (Majlis). The Engineering Company once again gave us the same letters and promises. However, neither our problems were resolved, nor our salaries were paid,” a protester explained.

Iranians Continue Protests; at Least Five Rallies and Strikes on February 4