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, many of which were continuations of ongoing movements.  Read our recap below for details, photos, and videos from the demonstrations.

Friday, December 17

Dozens of citizens held protests in Azadshahr City as backlash against the removal of Sunni Imam Mohammad Hossein Gorgij from his office. This unprecedented dismissal was ordered by a representative of the Supreme Leader in Golsetan and aroused the anger of Sunni communities in Iran.

Following a visit by the Minister of the Economy to Bahabad City in Yazd province, a number of people held protests to ask the minister to halt the construction of new mines which are considered destructive for both the environment and the cultural texture of the city.

A number of citizens who had long ago purchased land that was previously managed by police in Mahdasht in Karaj protested against legal issues regarding these lands that have still not been resolved after 19 years.

Saturday, December 18

A group of workers at the Zinc Production Factory of Bandar Abbas assembled in front of the factory building and asked to address raw material supply issues. According to the testimony of  one of the workers, these problems have caused factory closure since August of this year.

A number of the workers at petrochemical company Farabi assembled before company headquarters to protest against the failure to implement the Job Classification Plan. They also asked for wage raises when it comes to overtime, shift working and working on holidays. According to these workers, the company manager has reduced their wages and benefits and tried to replace the protesting workers with new ones as revenge rather than address the issues.

In Isfahan, dozens of contracted teachers assembled in front of the Ministry of Education building and protested for their demands.

A number of the workers at the Haft-Tappeh Sugarcane Agro-Industry Company assembled before the company building to protest for their demands. Reportedly, the protest turned violent with the interference of the police. Police used pepper spray and beat the protestors.

Sunday, December 19

A number of people whose investments have been blocked in the cryptocurrency exchange “Cryptoland” assembled in front of the head judicial office in Tehran to ask for the return of their lost money.

A number of the drivers and workers of the Tehran and Suburbs Bus Company assembled in front of the Tehran Municipality building and marched in the streets. They demanded the implementation of the Job Classification Plan and the delivery of unpaid wages.

A group of citizens who pre-purchased car from two car companies, Rigan Khoodro and Shahr Khodro, assembled before the company buildings to ask that their money be returned. Reportedly, the companies have neither delivered the cars nor refunded the money to 2000 customers.

A number of educators in Amol, Khorramabad, Isfahan, Javanrud, Lordegan, Malayer, Mariwan, Ramhormoz and Sari assembled before the Ministry of Education of each city. They asked for the implementation of the Job Ranking Plan.

Retirees and pensioners of Fulad Steel Company assembled before the company’s pension fund departments in Isfahan and Ahvaz to ask for pension-related demands.

A number of retirees and pensioners of the Social Security Organization assembled and protested before the organization building in Khorramabad, Arak and Kermanshah cities. They asked that the organization raise wages above the poverty line, close the disparities in wages, pay end of year bonuses and other demands.

A group of faculty members at Payame-Noor University assembled and protested in Shiraz City. They asked to close disparities in wages. They said that these disparities persist despite a Parliament resolution in 2020. Unlike other universities, their income has not been increased.

Monday, December 20

Several trainees at the Gachsaran Oil & Gas Company held protests before the company building. They said that, in breach of agreements, they have not been employed after eight years.

A number of patients with the blood disorder Thalassemia assembled before the Ministry of Health building in Tehran to protest against a market shortage of their required medicine. Earlier, the head of the Thalassemia Association in Fars Province stated that more than 511 patients have lost their lives due to a shortage of more than six months.

 

Tuesday, December 21

A number of retirees of Iran Telecommunication Company assembled before the building of the Ministry of Information and Communications Technology in Tehran. They asked the company to comply with its own bylaws and regulations and pay medical and dental expenses.

Similarly, a group of retirees of the Shahrekord Telecommunication Company assembled on company premises to ask the company to cover medical and dental expenses and provide other welfare amenities, as mandated by company regulations.

Wednesday, December 22

A group of the workers of the Central Iron Ore Company in Bafgh City assembled at the company entrance. Reportedly, they assembled to demonstrate discontent about the new CEO

.

A number of shareholders who lost their investments due to fraudulent activities in Iran’s stock market assembled before Parliament. They demanded protection from small investors.

A number of workers of the Iran Chocolate in Tabriz assembled in front of factory headquarters to request delivery of unpaid wages and benefits.

Thursday, December 23

Continuing the nationwide protests in recent weeks, working and retired teachers and educators in more than 100 cities held protests. Among other demands, they demanded the implementation of a plan whereby teachers’ income, depending on a ranking, will be raised up to 80% of faculty members’ salaries.

Teacher’s Union Activist Fatemeh Bahmani Arrested in Shazand city

On December 24, security forces arrested teacher and union activist Fatemeh Bahmani at her house in Shazand City. Her cell phone was confiscated during the arrest.

According to HRANA, the news agency of Human Rights Activists, quoting the Coordination Council of Iranian Teachers’ Trade Associations, IRGC’s security agents arrested Bahmani without showing an arrest warrant.

The reasons for the arrest and her whereabouts are unknown at the time of writing.

Bahmani was arrested earlier in 2018 along with her husband Mohammad Kurd. They were arrested during a protest and sit-down strike in Arak City and transferred to the city’s prison. In two different cases for each, they were sentenced to two years suspended imprisonment for three years and fined 8 million tomans (1904 USD).

Suspicious Death of Juvenile Offender in Amol Prison

On December 24, imprisoned juvenile offender Abolfazl Shaabani lost his life under suspicious circumstances in Amol Prison. Shaabani was sentenced to death at age 16 for murder, but was able to recompense the victim’s family and was saved from execution.

According to HRANA, the news agency of Human Rights Activists, there is conflicting information regarding the cause of death. According to an informed source close to his family, he was killed during a quarrel in prison. However, another informed source told HRANA that he died by suicide using pills.

Shaabani was buried the next day.

On February 3, 2014, he was arrested for killing one of his friends in a fight. Thereafter, he was sentenced to death and his execution proceeded twice, sending him to the foot of gallows. Shaaabani was able to recompense the victim’s family and at the time of death, was serving time for convictions other than murder.

Sunni Cleric Arrested By Security Forces in Kamyaran

On December 24, security forces arrested Sunni Cleric Mohammad-Mirza Rahmani in Kamyaran County, Kurdistan Province and transferred him to an unidentified location.

According to HRANA, the news agency of Human Rights Activists, quoting Kurdpa, Rahmani, a resident of the village Lown-e Sadat, was arrested due to his speech at the funeral of Heydar Ghorbani, a political prisoner who was recently executed in Sanandaj prison.

Despite inquiry from his family, his whereabouts are still unknown at the time of writing.

Two People Arrested by Security Forces in Naghadeh County

Two citizens were arrested by security forces and transferred to an unidentified location last Sunday. The arrests occurred in Naghadeh County, West Azerbaijan Province.

According to HRANA, the news agency of Human Rights Activists, quoting Kurdpa, Sarhang Alizadeh and Farzin Abdollahzadeh, both the residents of the village Kueek, were arrested for allegedly “collaborating with an opposition political party”. Reportedly, security agents did not show an arrest warrant.

The arrestee’s whereabouts are still unknown at the time of writing.

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Political Prisoners in Urmia Prison Still on Hunger Strike After 10 Days

Political prisoners in Urmia Prison are on the tenth day of their hunger strike. Since December 12, about forty-seven political prisoners have been on hunger strike in protest of an order from the prison director that would move them to a new high security ward with insufficient space and poor equipment.

According to HRANA, the news agency of Human Rights Activists, the prisoners went on sit-down strike on December 22nd. They protested before the prison guard office and after a few hours, went back to their ward after prison officer promised to address their demands.

In a shared open letter, these prisoners announced that they would continue their hunger strike until order for their relocation to a new ward is revoked.

According to an informed source, the head of the prison had announced that within two next weeks, they will be transferred to a newly built high-security ward. Daily time outside will be reduced to two hours.

In Iran’s prisons, hunger strikes are common among prisoners despite causing long-term physical and mental impairment. Hunger strikes are used as a last resort to achieve urgent demands such as unlawful long-term detention without trials, violations of prisoners’ rights and infringement in due process.

 

Environmental Activist Amanj Ghorbani Arrested in Kamyaran City

On December 21, environmental activist Amanj Ghorbani was arrested by security forces in Kamyaran City.

According to HRANA, the news agency of Human Rights Activists, Ghorbani was summoned by the Ministry of Intelligence and arrested at appearance.

The reasons for his summons and subsequent arrest are unknown at the time of writing.

Earlier in 2018, he was arrested and sentenced to 3 months in prison by Sanandaj’s Revolutionary Court.

Azerbaijani Turk activist Afshar Moheb Arrested and Sent to Ardabil Prison

On December 22, Azerbaijani Turk activist Afshar Moheb was arrested and sent to Ardabil Prison after his appearance at Branch 3 of the Public and Revolutionary Court in Ardabil.

According to HRANA, the news agency of Human Rights Activists, the resident of Ardabil, was indicted with the charge of “propaganda against the regime in favour of anti-regime groups.”

On January 23, 2021, security forces arrested Moheb while he was leaving his workplace in Ardabil City. They released him after a few hours of interrogation from the Press Office of the Ministry of Intelligence.

Educator and Civil Activist Rasoul Bodaghi Released on Bail

On December 21, educator and civil activist Rasoul Bodaghi was released on bail until the end of legal proceedings.

According to HRANA, the news agency of Human Rights Activists, Bodaghi was arrested last Saturday. The violent arrest was carried out at his house by security forces who also searched the house and confiscated his cell phone, as well as his wife’s.

The charges against him are still unknown the time of writing.

Bodaghi is a member of the Board of Directors and the Coordination Council of the Iranian Teachers’ Trade Association.

Update on Abdolbaset Orsan’s Condition in Vakilabad Prison

Sunni prisoner Abdolbaset Orsan is currently spending the fifth year of his sentence in Vakilabad Prison, Mashhad City. He has hardly seen his family due to their distance from the prison, the high costs of travel and COVID-related restrictions.

According to HRANA, the news agency of Human Rights Activists, Orsan has been deprived of family visitation. An informed source elaborated that in, “the ward where he is housed, under pretext of COVID-19 regulations, family visitation has long been stopped. The prisoners in other wards, however, can have visitations. Since [Orsan] was the sole breadwinner of his family, his family can hardly afford [to support themselves]”.

On October 8, 2017, Ministry of Intelligence agents arrested and held him for 12 months in solitary confinement in one of their detention centers.

In 2019, Branch 1 of the Revolutionary Court of Mashhad sentenced him to 15 years in prison and fined him 55 million tomans (13090 USD) on the charge of “spreading corruption on earth through acting against national security and collaboration with terrorist groups”. He was acquitted from charges of “armed insurrection against the regime (Baghi)”. In 2020, this verdict was upheld on appeal.

In July, Orsan, along with eight other Sunni prisoners in Vakilabad prison, wrote a letter to Javid Rahman, the UN Special Rapporteur on Iran. The open letter both requested that their cases be investigated and mentioned that their confessions have been extracted under torture and pressure upon their families.

Orsan is a Sunni citizen and a resident of Torbat-Jam. He is married and the father of three children.