HRANA Recap: This Week’s Protests in Iran

According to HRANA, the news agency of Human Rights Activists, a number of protests took place this week in Iran. Read our recap below for details, photos, and videos from the demonstrations

Thursday, June 2

A number of the residents of the Nikdasht village in Hormozgan Province gathered in front of the governorate building in the city of Bashagard.

They protested against the lack of facilities in schools and gas cylinder supply.

Friday, June 3

A group of shareholders of the housing cooperatives of the Justice Administrative Court office held a protest in a district in Tehran. Ten years ago, the cooperative sold them pieces of land, which have not yet been delivered.

Monday, June 6

The pensioners of the Social Security Organization held protests in the cities of Shiraz, Isfahan, Sari, Urmia, Bojnurd, Khorramabad, Arak, Ardabil, Ahvaz, Karaj, Mashhad, Dezful, Kerman, Zanjan, Bandar-Abbas, Shiraz, Rasht, Qazvin and Kermanshah, Shush, Shushtar and Tehran. They gathered in front of either the Social Security Organization’s building or the governorate building or the Ministry of Cooperatives, Labour, and Social Welfare. In Tehran, a number of pensioners also gathered before the parliament.

The pensioners protested against the government’s decision to increase the pensions by only 10 per cent which falls below the amount that the Supreme Labor Council has enacted.

In Tabriz, about a thousand pensioners gathered before the Social Security organization and then they rallied in the streets toward the governorate building. They chanted “Pensioners are awake and know his rights”, “living costs in dollar, wages in rials”, “inflation 100%, increase in wages 10%”, “incompetent Minister! Step down”, “Lying president! what happened to your promises.”

A group of personnel of the Ministry of Agriculture Jihad gathered before the governorate building in Ilam City to ask for their demands.

A group of workers of the Municipality of Shush gathered before the governorate building in this city. They said that the governor, the mayor and city council members have not yet fulfilled their promises and the workers have not yet received their wages.

A number of residents of Parand City in Tehran Province protested against water outages and the lack of accountability from the local authorities.

 Tuesday, June 7

The social security pensioners held protests in Rasht, Arak, Tabriz, Bandar-Abas, Isfahan, Zanjan, Kermanshah, Karaj, Borujerd, Shush, Dorud, Kerman, Ilam, Ardabil, Qazvin, Yazd and Ahvaz. These pensioners ask for raising pensions in accordance with inflation. However, the government has not increased the pensions as much as the Supreme Labor Council has enacted.

For the second consecutive day, a number of workers of the Shush Municipality gathered before the governorate building to ask for their demands.

The personnel of the Islamic Azad University gathered before the University Central Organization to ask for their wages and close wage disparities.

In Tabriz, a group of firefighters and the Municipal safety service workers held protests before the Municipal building to ask for increasing wages. According to them, a 10 per cent annual increase in wage cannot catch up with more than 40 per cent inflation.

A group of citizens who have pre-purchased apartments from a construction project known as Arya protested for not receiving their apartments.

Wednesday, June 8

The Social Security Organization pensioners continued their protests in Tehran Ahvaz, Shush, Yazd, Kermanshah, Arak, Mashhad, Karaj, Khorramabad and Kerman. They chanted slogans against the government and the Social Security Organization.

In this regard, in an open statement, the Tehran Retirement Centre asked the government to increase the pensions in compliance with the Supreme Labor Council’s enactment.

A number of citizens, who have lost their money in the recent robbery of Iran Safe Deposit Boxes of Melli Bank, protested in front of the Iran Ministry of Roads & Urban Development in Tehran.

This protest turned violent by police interference.  

In recent days, dozens of safe deposit boxes from Melli Bank were stolen by some burglars.

A group of citizens who have pre-purchased apartments in a housing construction project known as Mehr, assembled in front of the Ministry of Roads and Urban Development in Tehran. After 11 years, they still have not received their apartments.

In Gilan Province, a group of retirees held a protest to ask for raising pensions in accordance with Supreme Labor Council’s enactment.

In Kermanshah, working and retired teachers protested against the arrest of several teachers union activists. They also showed their concerns about detained teachers health conditions, who are on hunger strike and asked them to end the strike.

Thursday, June 9

For the fourth consecutive day, the pensioners of the Social Security Organization held protests in the cities of Karaj, Zanjan, Arak and Rasht. The protestors chanted slogans reflecting their poor living conditions and their frustration over inflation and the authorities’ incompetency.

The pensioners demand the 38% increase as it has been enacted by Supreme Labor Council.

A number of farmers from Lenjan in Isfahan Province protested in front of the governorate building to ask for their water portion.

A number of the residents of the Esfarjan village in Isfahan Province gathered and protested against a mining construction in the vicinity of their neighbourhood.

 

HRANA Recap: This Week’s Protests in Iran

According to HRANA, the news agency of Human Rights Activists, a number of protests took place this week in Iran. Read our recap below for details, photos, and videos from the demonstrations

Saturday, May 28

A number of farmers gathered in front of the governorate building of Lorestan in Khorramabad City to demand their water portion. In recent years, drought has affected the livelihood of many farmers. Additionally, poor water supply infrastructure, officials’ water mismanagement and incompetency have exacerbated the situation.

A number of students of Payame Noor University gathered and protested before the main entrance of the university. They asked for taking exams online instead of in person. They said that the university management has not informed the students adequately and on time about the way exams will be given.

Sunday, May 29

A group of nurses working for the Social Security Organization gathered before this organization in Tehran to ask for increasing pensions as allocated for hard and hazardous jobs in accordance with labour law.

The Social Security pensioners held protests in the cities of Qazvin, Ahvaz, Sush, Tabriz, Kermanshah and Mashhad. They chanted slogans against the irresponsibility of the government towards their demands. These pensioners demanded raising their pension to stand above the poverty line, addressing the supplementary insurance issues, the end year bonuses.

 

Tuesday, May 31

A number of teachers of Sanandaj City gathered and protested in front of the Ministry of Education. They chanted, “Imprisoned teacher should be released.”

In Zanjan, a group of pensioners of the Social Security Organization protested before the Planning and Budget Organization office. They asked for increasing wages and pensions.

A number of students of Payame Noor University protested before the Ministry of Science, Research and Technology office in Tehran.

A number of the Sugarcane Agro-Industry Complex of Shushtar gathered before this company to ask for the removal of the CEO. Despite the ministry of Justice’s order for deposing the CEO due to hoarding sugar, he has not yet been removed from the office.

Personnel and faculty members of the Islamic Azad University West Tehran Branch gathered before the entrance to protest against low wages.

A group of students of the Amirkabir University of Technology gathered on campus to ask for their demands.

Wednesday, June 1

A number of farmers from Khorramabad County in Lorestan Province gathered before the County building to protest against not receiving the water portion from the Eyvashan Dam.

For the third consecutive day, pensioners of the Social Security Organization protested in Zanjan. They gathered in front of the governorate building to ask for raising pension and wages in accordance with the Labor Council enactment.

At the same time, Social Security pensioners of Gilan also held a protest before the Central Selection Board of this organization in Rasht.
Iranian Retirement Council also reported a similar protest before the Social Security Organization in Tabriz.

 

A group of retirees and working personnel of Zanjan Telecommunication Company gathered before the management office of this company to protest against not receiving the wage for last month.

The workers of the Agro-Industry Company Karoon Shushar gathered for the second consecutive day in front of the company office building.

The workers said, “Yesterday, in protest gathering, we heard nothing but hollow promises. Therefore, we had to come here again for our denied labor rights.”

Among other demands, the workers ask for the modification of job contracts from temporary to official and closing wage disparities.

A group of workers of AzarAb Industries Company held protests at factory premises for the second consecutive day. They protested against two months’ delays in payment and the suspension from work.

The members of the housing cooperative of the Zanjan University of Medical Sciences gathered before the governorate building of Zanjan Province to ask for their demands.

A group of personnel of the Ilam Telecommunication Company gathered before this company office in Ilam City to protest against unpaid wages and other livelihood issues.

Thursday, June 2

The workers of Tabriz Azar Glass Industries Company held a protest in front of the company to demand several months’ unpaid wages.

Teacher Union Activist Iraj Rahnama Arrested in Shiraz

On Sunday, May 29, 2022, security forces arrested teacher union activist Iraj Rahnama at his house in the city of Shiraz and transferred him to an unidentified location. During the arrest, the agents searched the house and confiscated some of his personal belongings.

According to HRANA, the news agency of Human Rights Activists, quoting the Coordination Council of Iranian Teachers’ Trade Association, on Sunday, May 29, 2022, teacher union activist Iraj Rahnama was arrested at his house in Shiraz.

The reason for his arrest, the charges and his whereabouts are unknown so far.

Iraj Rahnama is the deputy head of the Teachers’ Trade Association of Fars Province.

HRANA Recap: This Week’s Protests in Iran

According to HRANA, the news agency of Human Rights Activists, a number of protests took place this week in Iran. Read our recap below for details, photos, and videos from the demonstrations

Saturday, May 23

A group of workers and retirees of the Sugarcane Agro-Industry Company Haft-Tappeh gathered in front of the governorate building in Shush City. Recently, these protestors who are living in corporate houses of this company have received an eviction notice. They said that “we will evict the houses, but we have to receive beforehand the renovation expenses. Since these houses are too old, we have spent a lot on renovation”.

A group of poultry farmers assembled in front of the Ministry of Agriculture Jihad in Tehran. They protested against a 600% increase in livestock inputs. According to these farmers, the subsidiary companies of the Ministry sell the livestock inputs illegally on the black market.

A group of personnel of the Ministry of Petroleum who have temporary contracts gathered before this Ministry in Tehran to protest again low wages. According to these protestors, a 10 per cent increase in wages can not keep up with current inflation.

A number of workers of the Municipality of Ahar City walked off the job and went on strike to protest unpaid wages.

Sunday, May 23

A group of pensioners of the Social Security Organization gathered in front of the Planning and Budget Organization in Tehran. In Karaj, Ahvaz, Tabriz, Kerman, Rasht, and Kermanshah, the pensioners held protests before the building of the Social Security Organization in each city.

These pensioners demanded raising their pension to stand above the poverty line, addressing the supplementary insurance issues, the end year bonuses.

 

 

 

A group of workers of the Municipality of Yasuj gathered before the governorate building to protest against 5-month delays in payments. One of the workers complained: “we work 12 hours. However, we cannot even afford the travel expenses so we have to walk to work. If we protest, they threaten us with termination.”

A group of citizens, who have not lost their money by the fraudulent acts of Negin Khordo and Irtoya, held protests before Tehran Public Prosecutor’s Office. They asked for transparency and responsibility from the judiciary in examining the legal case against these companies.

 

Monday, May 23

Following the collapse of a tower in Abadan, dozens of people rallied and protested. 27 people died in this accident. On that day, at least 80 people were still trapped under rubble.

In Tehran, a number of taxi drivers working for taxi app Snapp protested against low fares, lack of insurance coverage and other issues.

Tuesday, May 24

A group of students of Allameh Tabataba’i University protested against the suppression of students and prison sentence against Hasti Amiri, one of the law students at Allameh Tabataba’i University.

Recently, the Court of Appeals upheld a one-year sentence against Hasti Amiri.

Similarly, a group of students of the Babol Noshirvani University of Technology gathered on campus to protest against the prison sentence against Hasti Amiri as well as other imprisoned civil activist Farhad Meysami and jailed teachers Mohammad Habibi and Esmail Abdi.

In Abadan, hundreds of residents gathered and protested before the collapsed tower known as Metropol. They chanted slogans against the incompetency of officials and shortcomings in rescue operations and equipment. At least 26 people died in this accident. The experts of the Abadan Engineering Organization had already warned about the construction defect of this unfinished building.

A group of workers of the Ministry of Petroleum, who have temporary contracts gathered before this Ministry in Tehran. They said that a 10 per cent increase in wages is less than the minimum wage enacted by the Ministry of Labor. Also, they have not received yet the end year bonuses.

A number of ranchmen brought some of their livestock in front of the governorate building in Mehran city to protest against the shortening of forage for livestock.

Wednesday, May 25

A group of physicians held protests in front of the Ministry of Health and Medical Education in Tehran. With placards in their hands, they protested that the government and insurance take as high as 70 per cent of their revenue.

A number of residents of a district in Fanuj City gathered at their district to protest against Natural Resources Office’s attempt to confiscate their lands to construct a mine. They also warned about the irreparable damage this mine will bring to the environment.

Thursday, May 26

In protest against the incompetency of officials led to the collapse of a tower and the death of 26 people, hundreds of people in Abadan rallied. Also in Ahvaz and Shahinshar, people rallied in support of Abadan’s protest. People chanted anti-government slogans and the police shoot tear gas into the crowd in order to scatter them.

On May 23, 2022, the unfinished 10-story Metropol building collapsed and dozens of people were killed, injured or trapped in the debris.

 

 

 

 

HRANA Recap: This Week’s Protests in Iran

According to HRANA, the news agency of Human Rights Activists, many protests and rallies took place this week in Iran. Read our recap below for details, photos, and videos from the demonstrations

Saturday, May 14

In Qahdarijan City, Isfahan Province, a group of farmers gathered in a city square to demand their denied irrigation water portions.

A number of laid-off workers of Ramin Power Plant gathered before the entrance of this power plant in Ahvaz for the ninth consecutive day. They asked for prioritizing native labor forces in recruitments.

A number of workers of the Ahvaz and Kharq Oil Companies, who have temporary job contracts, gathered and protested in Ahvaz. They said that the 10 per cent increase in wage is less than the minimum wage enacted by the Ministry of Labor.

Sunday, May 15

Dozens of Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) drivers walked off the job on strike and protested before Tehran and Suburbs Bus Company in Tehran. The workers asked for a wage increase in accordance with the enactment of the Supreme Labor Council.

Monday, May 16

The workers of BRT drivers continued their strike and gathered before the Tehran and Suburbs Bus Company. They chanted slogans asking the mayor to resign.

 

 

In Tabriz, Ahvaz, Qazvin, Arak, Mashhad, Isfahan and Ilam, a number of Social Security pensioners held protests before the Social Security Organization in each city. These pensioners demanded raising their pension to stand above the poverty line, addressing the supplementary insurance issues, the end year bonuses.

 

 

 

The workers of Karoon and Maroon Oil and Gas Production Companies gathered before the National Iranian South Oil Company office in Ahvaz to ask to increase wages as much as other company personnel wages.

Tuesday, May 17

For the third consecutive day, BRT drivers walked off the job. They said a 10 per cent increase in wage is not enough and less what the Supreme Labor Council has enacted.

A number of land proprietors in the Sardasht area in Arak city gathered before the governorate building to protest uncertainties regarding the construction project of the University of Arak on their lands.

A group of individuals who have lost their money by fraudulent acts of Caspian Credit Institution in Rasht City held protests. Since 2017, their deposits have been frozen and they cannot withdraw their money.

The personnel of a heart centre hospital in Tehran gathered and protested at hospital premises. They protested against low and unpaid wages and issues regarding their pension.

Wednesday, May 18

The workers with temporary contracts who are working for the Oil and Gas Production Companies Karoon, Maroon and Aghajari gathered before the National Iranian South Oil Company in Ahvaz to demand an increase in wages as much as other company personnel wages.

Thursday, May 19

A group of land proprietors in Andisheh Town in Qazvin City gathered and protested in this town. Reportedly, after 25 years, they have not yet been granted the construction permit due to the obstructions of local authorities and a dispute on this issue between the municipality and the Police Cooperative.

In Sarpol-e Zahab County, in Kermanshah Province, a group of farmers gathered before the Ministry of Agriculture Jihad. They protested that the seeds provided by the Ministry have a poor quality.

The motorbike food delivery drivers of the Companies Snapp Food and Snapp Box gathered and protested in Karaj to demand an increase in wages following the current food price hikes.

 

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Twelve BRT Drivers Arrested

According to the Syndicate of Workers of Tehran and Suburbs Bus Company, twelve Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) drivers have been arrested on Tuesday, May 17, 2022. Since Monday, BRT drivers and other service workers have been on strike demanding a wage increase in accordance with the enactment of the Supreme Labor Council.

The identity of one of the individuals has been revealed as Mohammad Ramezani.

The syndicate also reported that Vahid Freidooni, one of his members, has been arrested along with the eleven BRT drivers.

HRANA Recap: This Week’s Protests in Iran

According to HRANA, the news agency of Human Rights Activists, a number of protests took place this week in Iran. Read our recap below for details, photos, and videos from the demonstrations


Saturday, May 7

A group of ranchmen in various cities such as Shahroud, Qazvin, Isfahan, Arak, Qom, Shiraz, Yazd, Kerman and Mashhad gathered and protested before the building of the Ministry of Agriculture Jihad in each city. In Shiraz, the protestors rallied in the streets after gathering.

They chanted “livestock in Rials, the expenditures in dollars”, and “ranchmen are bankrupt.” to protest against the high prices of animal and poultry feed.

In response to a call for protest against inflation and surging prices in media, in Khuzestan Province, people in Shadegan, Susangerd and Izeh demonstrated. In this regard, in Susangerd, at least 20 people were arrested by security forces. in Izeh City, The police used tear gas to crack down on the protests.

A group of residents of the village Sheykh Taqqeh in Kurdistan Province held protests in their village against destroying farming lands for setting up factories.

They said: “Instead of using the place of Zagros Steel Company which shut it down under various pretexts, now they want to destroy farmlands to set up a factory. The closed factory location suits best this new factory. It is already equipped with gas and water and is near the railway. We are wondering why they want to build the factory on our farmlands.”

A number of staff of the contractor companies who are working for the Ministry of Energy gathered before the Administrative and Recruitment Affairs Organization in Tehran to demand official contracts with the Ministry. They argued that according to the regulations and enactments, all employees who have been recruited through passing the National recruitment exams should receive official employment contracts with government organizations of the Ministry of Energy.

A group of workers of the Coal Mining Galanderoud in Mazandaran Province held protests before the Iranian Mining Products and Supplies Company in Tehran.

According to the protestors, the employer forces them to come under contract with the contractors rather than the company itself.

The workers of contractor companies who are working as welders in Gas Tank Manufacturing projects as well as the Electrical and instrumentation workers working for Gachsaran Petrochemical Company went on strike. They asked for unpaid wages, the end year bonuses and a work schedule of 20 days on/10 days off.

Sunday, May 8

A number of retired workers of Haft-Tappeh Complex gathered before the Ministry of Cooperatives, Labour, and Social Welfare office in Shush City. They said that after one year of the employer’s failure to meet their demands, they filed a complaint to the Ministry of Labour. But the process goes through very slowly.

The Social Security pensioners gathered and protested before the Social Security Organization’s offices in Ahvaz, Mashhad, Kermanshah, Ardabil, Rasht and Arak.

Some of their demands include raising pensions to stand above the poverty line, implementing an already enacted plan to close wage disparities, addressing supplementary insurance issues, and paying the end year bonuses.

 

 

 

 

 

 

A number of workers of the Tabriz Petrochemical Company gathered before the company entrance to protest against the wage gap between the office personnel and workers.

Monday, May 9

In Mariwan, dozens of teachers and educators gathered before the Ministry of Education in support of two detained teachers Eskandar Lotfi and Masoud Nikkhah.

On May 1, 2022, security protests arrested two teachers and members of the Teachers’ Trade Association of Mariwan Eskandar Lotfi and Masoud Nikkhah. They went on hunger strike right after the arrest.

A number of citizens who have pre-purchased the apartments from the construction project Damon Darya 2 protested before the Kish Free Zone Organization. These protestors asked the managers to fulfil their commitments and complete the construction project after ten years.

The personnel of Sepah Bank gathered in Isfahan to protest against low wages and other demands.

For the second consecutive day, the workers of the Gachsaran Petrochemical Company went on strike and gathered at work premises. They asked for unpaid wages and other benefits.

 

 

Tuesday, May 10

A group of Administrative staff of Ali-Nasab Hospital in Tabriz gathered at the hospital premises to ask for receiving the extra payments that had been allocated merely to medical staff during Coivd-pandemics.

The green maintenance workers of the Municipality of Shiraz gathered and protested before the City Council Building. They protested against irregularities in payments, low wages and the lack of job security.

A group of the candidates for the residency exam protested to change the exam date.

A number of mini-bus drivers in Bandar-Abbas went on strike to protest against the fuel shortage.

Wednesday, May 11

For the third consecutive day, the workers of Gachsaran Petrochemical Company went on strike and gathered before the headquarters of Gachsaran Oil and Gas Company. One of the protestors told HRANA: “Today in this gathering, we the workers who have temporary job contracts ask for levelling up wages adequately because this 10 per cent increase is less than the annual increase in the minimum wage.”

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

A group of shareholders of Bank Day gathered before the Central Bank in Tehran to ask for their demands. They chanted slogans for resigning the bank managers.

The workers of the contractors who are working for Adish Refinery Company in Kangan, Bushehr Province, joined the 1401 Campaign and went on strike. Many workers in the oil industry have recently launched a protest campaign to ask for raising wages.

A number of pharmacists assembled and protested before Food and Drug Administration in Tehran. They protested against the low wages determined by the Pharmacist Association and not holding elections for this association under the pretext of Coivd-19 pandemics for two years.

The residents of two villages in Shiraz County gathered and protested before the governorate building in Shiraz City. They protested against the poor quality and saline water caused by a salt dome along the river.  Despite frequent requests, the local authorities have done nothing to remove this salt dome.

Thursday, May 12

As a backlash to the new wave of inflation, citizens in several cities such as Shahrekord, Andimeshk, Izeh and Junqan poured into the streets. The police and security forces cracked down on the protests and used tear gas and live ammunition to scatter the protesting crowds.

In response to the call of the Coordinating Council of Iranian teacher Unions, both retired and working teachers in dozens of cities held protests before the Ministry of Education in each city and the parliament in Tehran. The protestors chanted slogans in support of detained teachers.

 

 

Detained Teachers Eskandar Lotfi and Masoud Nikkhah on Fourth Day of Hunger Strike

Eskandar Lotfi and Masoud Nikkhah detained teachers and members of the Teachers’ Trade Association of Mariwan, have been on hunger strike since their arrest last Sunday.

According to HRANA, the news agency of Human Rights Activists, quoting the Telegram account of “Teachers’ Union” (Kanale Senfi Moaleman), on Wednesday, May 4, 2022, detained teachers Eskandar Lotfi and Masoud Nikkhah have been on hunger strike since the arrest last Sunday. The two teachers were arrested with Shaaban Mohammadi.

Lotfi, a teacher union activist and the inspector of the Coordination Council of Iranian Teachers’ Trade Association, has faced other arrests and convictions for his civil activities.

On Sunday, May 1, in response to a call by the Coordination Council of Iranian Teachers’ Trade Association, the retired and working teachers in 45 cities assembled in front of the building of the Ministry of Education. In Mariwan and Bushehr, these protests were attacked by the police and several protestors were arrested. 

Nine Teacher Union Activists Indicted in Saqqez

Nine Teacher Union Activists in the city of Saqqez in Kurdistan Province were indicted by the Public and Revolutionary Court of Saqqez. These individuals were identified as Awat Razavi, Leila Enayat-Zadeh, Taher Hamedi, Taher Ghaderzadeh, Amanj Amini, Aziz Marzi, Ahmad Ghaderi, Khaled Abdollahi, and Soleiman Abdi.

According to HRANA, the news agency of Human Rights Activists, quoting the Telegram account “Teachers’ Union” (Kanale Senfi Moaleman), nine teachers who had been arrested during teachers’ protest in Saqqez were indicted.

The report did not mention the charges against these teachers.

 

Seven Arrested Teachers Released, Four Teachers’ Detention Extended

On Monday, May 2, 2022, seven teachers who had been arrested during teachers’ protests in Bushehr were freed, while four teachers’ pretrial detentions were extended by 72 days.

According to HRANA, the news agency of Human Rights Activists, seven teachers who were arrested during the teachers’ protest in Bushehr last Sunday were released and four teachers’ detention was extended by 72 days.

Reportedly, these released teachers have been identified as Hamid Khojasteh, Mohammad-Reza Akbari, Ardeshir Sayyadi, Yousef Sayyadi, Fereydoun Shafiee, Mohammad Melaki and Naser Zendeh-boodi. The detentions of four teachers identified as Reza Amanifar, Asghar Hajeb, Mohsen Omrani and Mahmood Melaki were extended by72 days by the order of the prosecutor’s office.

These teachers had been arrested by the police in Bushehr last Sunday.

On Sunday, May 1, in response to a call by the Coordination Council of Iranian Teachers’ Trade Association, the retired and working teachers in 45 cities assembled in front of the building of the Ministry of Education. In Mariwan and Bushehr, these protests were attacked by the police and several protestors were arrested.