Azerbaijani Turk Activists Amir Sattari and Yousef Salahshouri Sentenced to Imprisonment, Fines and Flogging

Recently, Branch 111 of Tabriz Criminal Court confirmed sentences of prison time, fines, and flogging for Azerbaijani Turk activists Amir Sattari and Yousef Salahshouri.

According to HRANA, the news agency of Human Rights Activists, Amir Sattari was sentenced to 91 days in prison, of which the detention period will be subtracted, and a fine of 40 million rials after being charged of “inciting violence via cyberspace”. 50 days of this prison term have been suspended for two years.

Salahshouri received a fine of 51 million rials on a charge of “inciting violence”, and sentenced to 37 lashes on a charge of “disturbing public order”.

On July 25, Yousef Salahshouri was arrested by intelligence agents and transferred to the detention center of the Ministry of Intelligence in Tabriz. On August 11, in a phone call, Salahshouri informed his family that he had been transferred to Tabriz Prison. He was released on bail on August 14. Then on October 3,  the Revolutionary Court of Tabriz held the first court session.

Sattari was arrested on July 22 by security forces and transferred to Tabriz Prison. He was released from Tabriz prison on August 15.

On July 24, a number of citizens in Tabriz marched and protested in support of the protest of Khuzestan against water shortages and mismanagement of the government. During the protests, a number of these citizens were arrested.

The Uprising of the Thirsty; An Analysis of the 2021 Khuzestan Protests

The July 2021 Iranian protests were a continuation of protests that have been erupting sporadically since 2016.

The driving force behind the July/August uprising was to protest the perennial water shortages and rolling blackouts stemming from mismanagement of resources, fueling public anger. The latest round of protests erupted on 15 July, starting in Khuzestan soon spreading to other provinces including Isfahan, Lorestan, Eastern Azerbaijan, Tehran, and Karaj. These protests have been coined the ‘Uprising of the Thirsty’.

As nearly 5 million Iranians in Khuzestan are lacking access to clean drinking water, Iran is failing to respect, protect, and fulfill the right to water, which is inextricably linked to the right to the highest attainable standard of health; both are protected by the International Covenant on Economic, Social, and Cultural Rights (ICESR), to which Iran is a signatory. It is a common cause that Iran’s water crisis has reached a critical point. Even the regime’s state-run media have acknowledged the dire situation, with at least 700 villages out of water.

According to the state-run Aftab News on July 4, 2021, “Of Iran’s population of 85 million, about 28 million live in areas with water shortages and are under pressure in this regard, mainly in the central and southern regions of the country. Water shortages have affected all sections of society, from urban households to agricultural and rural communities.”

It did not take long for the protests to take on a political character, with protesters in various cities calling for the end of the current regime and expanding the subject matter of their protests from water shortages to deteriorating living conditions.

One protester told HRA, “My ideal outcome is to see a regime official resign in response to our suffering. We are tired of all of this misery, poverty, dehydration, neglect, lies, and empty promises.

A protester living in Tehran told HRA, “Besides supporting [the people of] Khuzestan, we are protesting unemployment, high prices, poverty, and the existing problems in the country. We can no longer bear the hardships of life created by unworthy officials. The authorities must address the problems…

In the two weeks of the uprising, Human Rights Activists (HRA) verified 129 videos documenting the protests, 361 arrests, 6 deaths, and several more wounded. HRA’s Spreading Justice team (HRA-SJ) additionally identified individual violators associated with the violent crackdown. The following report analyses the events that occurred as a result of the uprising, those responsible, and concludes with a call for accountability noting that without action, this cycle of abuse will only continue.

Read the full report here.

_________________________

For further inquiries please contact Skylar Thompson, Senior Advocacy Coordinator Human Rights Activists in Iran (HRA) at [email protected]

Two Participants in July Protests in Khuzestan Arrested in Behbahan

Two participants in this July’s Protests in Khuzestan were arrested this weekend in Behbahan.

According to HRANA, the news agency of Human Rights Activists, Gholam Tayebi and Muhammad Khalili were arrested by security forces and transferred to an unidentified location on Saturday, October 16 and Sunday, October 17, respectively.

In the company of the police of NAJA (Disciplinary Force of the Islamic Republic of Iran), security forces arrested the citizens separately in Behbahan City, where they were forced to flee from their home in Kurdistan Bozorg Village. After the wave of arrests from this village, they did not return home due to the prosecution. According to this report, Ali Tayebi, another resident of this village, has also been arrested.

An informed source told HRANA that most of the arrestees from this village in regards to July protests in Khuzestan are farmers–biggest victims of water resources mismanagement of the government. A while back, an official of the Ministry of Agriculture Jihad had informed about the delay in autumn planting due to lowering reservoir levels of dams in this area.

According to Summary Report from the Khuzestan Protests in 41 Cities published by HRANA, 171 people were arrested in the July protests. The protests erupted on July night 15, 2021 in Khuzestan province to outcry over water shortages and water supply mismanagement. These protests lasted two weeks spreading over 41 cities of the province. Reportedly, dozen people were killed and wounded and hundreds were arrested.

 

Summary Report from the Second Week of Khuzestan Protests; Protests in 41 Cities

In the two weeks since their start on the evening of July 15, public rallies in cities throughout Khuzestan over water cuts and provincial officials’ resource mismanagement have spread to at least 41 cities.

According to HRANA, the news agency of Human Rights Activists, dozens have been killed and injured during the protests, and hundreds were detained. HRANA has identified a number of victims along with 171 detained citizens in Khuzestan and other parts of Iran. The following report also reveals some of the human rights violators and addresses issues such as internet cuts, the security atmosphere, and reactions since the protests started.

Abstract

Citizens of Khuzestan have held protest rallies in at least 26 cities including Ahvaz, Susangerd, Hamidiyeh, Abadan, Kut Abdollah, Khorramshahr, Mahshahr, Bostan, Mollasani, Shadegan, Hoveyzeh, Abou Homeyzeh, Shavur, Karkheh, Kut Seyed Naeem, Shush, Veys Chamran, Izeh, Behbahan, Masjed-e-Soliman, Sheiban, Ramshir, Elhaei, Ramhormoz and Horr. In many cases, the protests have escalated into violence with the presence of military and security forces.On a number of occasions, police have opened fire and released tear gas towards protesters. HRANA has received videos showing the heavy presence of security forces and special forces vehicles in several cities in Khuzestan province.

Two citizens living in Susangerd emphasized the security climate in the city is very strong and told a HRANA reporter, “Officers with military equipment have been deployed into the streets and have caused terror among the citizens of this city.”

After the protests of the people of Khuzestan, people in the cities of Mashhad, Karaj, Saqqez, Bojnourd, Ardabil, Tabriz, Aligudarz, Bandar Genaveh, Tehran, Robat Karim, Kermanshah, Meybod, Yazdanshahr, and Baharestan of Isfahan also held protest rallies.

In addition to supporting the protests in Khuzestan, the protesters chanted slogans such as “Death to the dictator”, “Shame on Khamenei, leave the country alone”, “Iranians would die, but will not accept humiliation,” “do not be afraid, we are all together,” ” Zealous Iranians, support us,” and “We do not want the Islamic Republic”.

HRANA has received videos showing the continued presence of large numbers of security forces and special forces vehicles in many of above-mentioned cities where mass protests have taken place.

A citizen living in Tehran who was present at the protest rallies in the city told HRANA, “Besides supporting Khuzestan, we are protesting unemployment, high prices, poverty, and the existing problems in the country. We can no longer bear the hardships of life created by unworthy officials. The authorities must address the problems in the society that have filled the tolerance threshold of the people, instead of repressing and detentions.”

In response to the question of “whether anyone has been arrested in connection with the protests in Tehran”, The NAJA police Commander Ashtari clarified, “The leaders have been identified and measures have been taken with judicial coordination.”

In a short conversation with HRANA, a citizen who was present during the Tehran protests reported the arrest of at least 50 citizens after the rally. According to him, the families of the detainees went to the Evin court on Tuesday, July 27, to follow up on the status of the detained members of their families.

According to reports received by HRANA, cellphones and home internet have been cut off in many parts of Khuzestan province, and internet disconnections have been reported in other cities of the country. According to citizens, this disorder has also affected people’s jobs and income besides disrupting communication and limiting access to news.

The global internet watchdog website “Netblocks” earlier confirmed the internet disruptions since the protests took place in Khuzestan saying that “widespread Internet disruptions in Iran have occurred since Thursday, July 15, following popular protests in Khuzestan province and it continues.”

Comments from officials and other reactions

The protests have provoked reactions from many officials, experts and critics, human rights organizations and institutions, artistic figures, and others. Some officials have tried to deny that protests even took place, others have threatened protestors and attributed the rallies to “dissident groups”. Some other officials confirmed the arrests and use of violence against citizens and called for the protesters’ demands to be addressed. In this regard, Qassem Sa’edi, a representative of the people of Azadegan plain confirmed the news of the death of two young men during the protests in Shadegan and Karun counties, and claimed, “The law enforcement and security forces did not move against protesters and shootings came from terrorist groups”!

Waliollah Hayati, the governor’s deputy security chief in Khuzestan, said the protests in the cities of Khuzestan province were “limited” and claimed that the protests ended “peacefully” and that no one was killed in Susangerd. He told IRNA that the news published about killings are “negative and false” and that the publishers would be dealt with.

Fars News Agency that is close to the Revolutionary Guards, in a report on Tuesday, July 20, confirmed the shooting of the military forces and claimed that “the NAJA police shooting is to take care of the protests and the demands of the people of Khuzestan.”

Without giving details, on July 20, the governor of Behbahan confirmed the arrest of a number of people whom he called “norm-breakers” in the city.

In a threatening statement, the Ahvaz prosecutor called the protesting people of Khuzestan “rioters” and threatened that “They will be harshly confronted.”

Ali Shamkhani, secretary of the Supreme National Security Council, confirmed the arrest of the protesters in a post on his social media page, claiming: “he has ordered the security forces to immediately release the detainees if they have not committed any criminal acts.”

The Khuzestan police chief also called the protesters “disturbers of order and security” and threatened them with “decisive confrontation.”

On the other hand, institutions, organizations, and some popular figures issued statements in support of the protesting people.

Iranian Writers’ Association, Theater House, Human Rights Defenders Association, Iranian Music House, more than 600 film artists, Hamedan Teachers’ Union, a number of artists from Fars province, more than 230 lawyers, Amnesty International, A group of political, social, union and human rights activists, the Tehran Teachers’ Union, the Human Rights Watch, and more than one hundred and thirty documentary filmmakers, issued separate statements supporting the protests of the people of Khuzestan and condemning the repression of the protesters.

Names of human rights violators identified in relation to the protests:

The Spreading Justice (human rights violators’ databases) has revealed the names of the eleven main violators of human rights in the protests, citing details of their actions, as are outlined below.

 

Abbas Mohammadi, as the police commander of Aligudarz city in Lorestan province, is responsible for the violent suppression of the July 22 protests by the forces under his command in this city.

Hojat Sefidpoost, as Izeh police chief, is involved in the violent suppression of the July protests by forces under his command in the city.

Seyed Mohammad Akbari Salehi, commander of the Khuzestan police force and a member of the provincial security council, is responsible for the violent repression of the citizens in July protests, by forces under his command.

Valiollah Hayati, as the head of Khuzestan province’s security-law enforcement coordinator with the armed forces (including the police and the Revolutionary Guards) and a member of the provincial security council on behalf of the governor, is responsible for violently suppressing the July protests in this province.

Qassem Soleimani Dashtaki, as the governor and chairman of the provincial security council, is involved in the violent suppression of the July protests of the citizens by the security and law enforcement forces.

Reza Papey, as the police commander of Mahshahr city, is involved in the suppression of the July protests and their murder. He is also responsible for the violent repression of protesters in November 2019.

Yahya Elahi, as the police commander of Lorestan province, is responsible for the violent suppression of the July 22 protests in the city of Aligudarz by the forces under his command.

Fereydoun Bandari, as the acting governor of Mahshahr port in Khuzestan province, is responsible for the violent suppression of the July protests by security and law enforcement forces in this city.

Eskandar Jamashiani, as Shadegan police chief, is responsible for the violent suppression of the July protests by forces under his command.

Seyed Qassem Mousavi, as the police chief of Dasht-e Azadegan, is responsible for the violent suppression of the July protests by the forces under his command in this city, especially in the city of Susangerd.

Hassan Shahvarpour, as the commander of the Khuzestan Provincial Corps (Valiasr Corps), besides in the Khuzestan protests, played a key role in violently suppressing the protesters during the November 2019 protests, and in violating people’s right to freedom, the right to protest, and especially the right to life, in this province. In 2020, the United States placed Hassan Shahvar Pour on its human rights sanctions list for his role in commanding the massacre of protesters in Khuzestan.

Killed citizens of the protests

So far, various reports have named at least 10 people killed in the protests.

HRANA has been able to confirm the death of 6 of them based on confirmed reports and based on its sources. Other names are still under investigation. The confirmed victims are as follows:

Mostafa Naeemavi (Asakereh) from Shadegan, killed on July 16.

Qasem (Naseri) Khediri from Kut Abdollah, who was injured on July 16 and died in hospital on July 17.

Meysam Echresh from the city of Kureh (Taleghani town), who was injured on July 18 and died in hospital on July 21.

Hadi Bahmani from the village of Susan in Izeh, killed on July 22

Omid Azarkhosh from Aligudarz in Lorestan was killed on July 22

Hamzeh (Farzad) Farisat, 32years-old, from Alavi in Ahvaz, killed on July 20

Hrana is still investigating the reports about three murder of other citizens, Issa Baldi from Taleghani town in Mahshahr, Mohammad Chenani from Shus, Hamid Majdam (Jokari) from Chamran, and Amir Mashari (Ebadi) from Mahshahr.

Detained citizens

Although reports from various cities in the country indicate that hundreds have been detained, due to restrictions on the free flow of information in Iran, and the Iranian authorities’ refusal to allow independent civil society organizations to operate inside the country, HRANA has only been able to identify detention of 171.  122 citizens in Khuzestan, 23 in Tabriz, 2 citizens in Urmia, 14 citizens in Tehran, 1 citizen in Ardabil, 3 citizens in Behbahan, 1 citizen in Junqan section of Chaharmahal and Bakhtiari province, and 5 citizens in Kermanshah.

 

The date, place of detention, and the status of these cases are as follows:

  1. 1. Ahmad Asli, arrested on July 21 in Ramshir, latest status: unknown
  2. 2. Ahmad Savari, son of Abdol Ali Shamil, arrested on July 20 in Alavi in Ahvaz, latest status: unknown
  3. 3. Ahmad Mojaddam, son of Issa, arrested on July 22 in Chamran, latest status: Unknown
  4. 4. Esmail Jalali, son of Hassan, 40 years old, arrested on July 21 in Susangerd. Latest status: unknown
  5. 5. Ashkan Sa’adat Mehr, arrested on July 24, in Urmia. Latest status: freed
  6. 6. Afshin Hamoudi, arrested on July 26, in Kermanshah. Latest status: unknown
  7. 7. Akbar Gholizadeh, arrested on July 24 in Urmia. Latest status: freed
  8. 8. Omid Saeedi, arrested on July 23, in Tehran. Latest status: imprisoned in quarantine in Greater Tehran Prison
  9. 9. Omid Tusi, arrested on July 20 in Ramshir. Latest status: unknown
  10. 10. Amir Alhaei, son of Khalaf, arrested on July 22 in Elhaei. Latest status: unknown
  11. 11. Amir Sattari, a citizen of Tabriz and a former political prisoner, arrested on July 22 in Tabriz, latest status: Unknown
  12. 12. Ahura Mohammadi, arrested on July 21 in Lordegan. Latest status: unknown
  13. 13. Olduz Ghasemi, arrested on July 24 in Tabriz, latest status: she is imprisoned in Tabriz prison, and bail requested.
  14. 14. Ayad Abiat, son of Rahim, arrested in Susangerd, date of arrest: unknown. Latest status: unknown
  15. 15. Ayoub Abboud al-Namnum, a 12-year-old boy, arrested on July 22 in Shavur, latest status: unknown
  16. 16. Arash Sadeghi, arrested on July 20 in Tehran. Last status: freed
  17. 17. Arash Kaykhosravi, arrested on July 20 in Tehran. Latest status: freed
  18. 18. Armin Kiani, from Liqak in Kohgiluyeh and Boyer-Ahmad provinces, arrested in Behbahan. Last status: unknown
  19. 19. Bassem Heydari, 20 years old, arrested in Ahvaz, date of arrest; unknown. Latest status: unknown
  20. 20. Bassem Soleimani, son of Nasser, arrested on July 18 in Khorramshahr, latest status: unknown
  21. 21. Basam Zargani, son of Hamidan and 30 years old, arrested on July 21 in Ahvaz. Latest status: unknown
  22. 22. Behzad Homayouni Arrested on July 20 in Tehran Latest Status: Released
  23. 23. Bahman Taybi, arrested in Behbahan Last status: unknown
  24. 24. Behnam Hassani, arrested on July 21 in Lordegan. Latest status: unknown
  25. 25. Parham Naderi, arrested on July 26 in Kermanshah, latest status: unknown
  26. 26. Parviz Siabi, Turk (Azerbaijani) activist, arrested on July 25 in Ardabil, latest situation; unknown
  27. 27. Pouran Nazemi, arrested on July 20 in Tehran Latest status: Released
  28. 28. Pouya Naderi, arrested on July 25 during a rally in Kermanshah. Latest status: unknown
  29. 29. Jassem Chaldavi, 35 years old, arrested on July 19 in Bostan. Latest status: unknown
  30. 30. Jasem Tusi, arrested on July 20 in Ramshir, latest status: unknown
  31. 31. Jasmian (small name unknown), date of arrest; unknown, place of detention; Hamidiyeh. Latest status: Unknown
  32. 32. Jasmian (small name unknown), date of arrest; unknown, place of detention; Hamidiyeh. Latest status: Unknown
  33. 33. Jasmian (small name unknown), date of arrest; unknown, place of detention; Hamidiyeh. Latest status: Unknown
  34. 34. Jasmian (small name unknown), date of arrest; unknown, place of detention; Hamidiyeh. Latest status: Unknown
  35. 35. Jafar Azimzadeh, arrested on July 20 in Tehran Latest status: Released
  36. 36. Jamil Obaidawi, arrested on July 21 in Shavur. Latest status: unknown
  37. 37. Javad Jaberi, arrested on July 21 in Ramshir. Latest status: unknown
  38. 38. Javad Dehghan, date of arrest; Unknown. Latest status: He is detained in Tabriz prison and bail is requested
  39. 39. Hamed Hassani, arrested on July 21 in Lordegan. Latest status: unknown
  40. 40. Hamed Khaledi, arrested on July 21 in Ramshir. Latest status: unknown
  41. 41. Habib Fadaei, a citizen of Junqan in Chaharmahal and Bakhtiari province. Arrested in Junqan district. Last status: unknown
  42. 42. Hassan Saeedi, date of arrest; unknown. place of arrest Ahvaz. latest status: unknown
  43. 43. Hassan Amoori, arrested on July 20 in Ramshir, latest status: unknown
  44. 44. Hassan Mohsen Zeidan, arrested on July 21 in Shavur. Latest status: unknown
  45. 45. Hossein Shomeli, arrested on July 22 in Shavur. Latest status: unknown
  46. 46. Hossein Qarajeh Daghi, date of arrest; unknown. Latest status: He is detained in Tabriz prison and bail requested.
  47. 47. Hossein Manshadavi, son of Abdolreza and 22 years old, date and place of arrest; unknown, latest status: unknown
  48. 48. Hamzeh Afravi, arrested on July 20 in Susangerd. Latest status: unknown
  49. 49. Hamoud Chenani, arrested on July 17 in Ahvaz. Latest status: unknown
  50. 50. Hamoud Savari, from Ahvaz, arrested on July 23 in Ahvaz. Latest status: unknown
  51. 51. Hamoud Shamousi, 18 years old. Arrested on July 17 in Ahvaz, latest status: unknown
  52. 52. Hamid Asefi arrested on July 20 in Tehran Last status: Released
  53. 53. Heydar AlBushoke – Arrested on July 21 in Ramshir, latest status: unknown
  54. 54. Khaled Amoori, arrested on July 22 in Ramshir, latest status: unknown
  55. 55. Khaled Mazraeh, arrested on July 17 in Shavur, latest status: unknown
  56. 56. Khalid Amoori, arrested on July 21 in Ramshir, latest status: unknown
  57. 57. Darem Soleimani, arrested on July 18 in Khorramshahr, latest status: unknown
  58. 58. Davood Rahimi, arrested on July 24 arrested in Tabriz, latest status: released on bail
  59. 59. Dahimawi (first name not verified), arrested on July 21 in Hamidiyeh, latest status: unknown
  60. 60. Dahimawi (first name unknown), arrested on July21 in Hamidiyeh, latest status: unknown
  61. 61. Razi Dahimavi (Dahimi), arrested on July 21 in Hamidiyeh, latest status: unknown
  62. 62. Razi Dahimavi, arrested on July 21 in Hamidiyeh, latest status: unknown
  63. 63. Rahim Sasani, arrested on July22 in the city of Khajeh, latest situation; freed
  64. 64. Rasoul Bodaghi, arrested on July 20 in Tehran Latest status: Released
  65. 65. Rasoul Sava’edi, arrested on July22 in Hamidiyeh, latest status: unknown
  66. 66. Reza Savari, 23 years old, arrested on July 22 in Ahvaz, latest status: unknown
  67. 67. Reza Abiat, arrested on July 23 in Susangerd, latest status: unknown
  68. 68. Reza Afravi, son of Abbas, 24 years old, arrested on July 20 in Susangerd, latest status: unknown
  69. 69. Reza Afravi, son of Abbas, 23 years old and a resident of Alboufari village of Susangerd, date of arrest; Unknown, place of arrest is Susangerd, latest status: unknown
  70. 70. Ra’d Heydari, arrested on July 21 in Ahvaz, latest status: unknown
  71. 71. Ruhollah Mardani, arrested on July 20 in Tehran Latest status: Released
  72. 72. Sajad Eshaqi, arrested on July 23 in Mahshahr, latest status: unknown
  73. 73. Sajad Mousavi, arrested on July 21 in Ramshir, latest status: unknown
  74. 74. Sa’dollah Sasani, arrested on July 22 in the city of Khajeh, latest situation; he was freed
  75. 75. Siamak Kooshi, arrested on Juky 24 in Tabriz, latest status: released on bail
  76. 76. Seyyed Hassoun Iraqi, arrested on July 22 in Shavur, latest status: unknown
  77. 77. Shahin Barzegar, arrested on 31 July in Tabriz, latest status; unknown
  78. 78. Shahrooz Barzegar, a Turk (Azerbaijani) activist from Tabriz, arrested on July 24 in Tabriz, latest status: imprisoned in Tabriz prison, bail requested
  79. 79. Sadegh Sa’edi, arrested on July 22 in Hamidiyeh, latest status: unknown
  80. 80. Sadegh Abiat, arrested on July 22 in Hamidiyeh, latest status: unknown
  81. 81. Saleh Obaidawi, arrested on July 21 in Shavur, latest status: unknown
  82. 82. Salah Khaledi, arrested on July 21 in Ramshir, latest status: unknown
  83. 83. Samad Ladvandi Nadarli, about 30 years old, arrested on July 24 in Tabriz, latest status: unknown
  84. 84. Teyban Sa’edi, arrested on July 22 in Hamidiyeh, latest status: unknown
  85. 85. Adel Naderi, 40, arrested on July 20 in Susangerd, latest status: unknown
  86. 86. Amer Zohairi, son of Khalaf, 18 years old, arrested on July 17 in Ahvaz, latest status: unknown
  87. 87. Abbas Alhaei, Malik’s son, 19 years old, arrested on July 22 in Alhaei, latest status: unknown
  88. 88. Abbas Albunasser, 18, arrested on July 23 in Shadegan, latest status: unknown
  89. 89. Abbas Khoin Vahid, 30 years ol, arrested on July 22 in Alhaei, latest status: unknown
  90. 90. Abbas Daghaghleh, 26 years old, son of Abdol Zahra, arrested on July 23 in Ahvaz, latest status: Unknown
  91. 91. Abbas Zargani, son of Sha’m, 27 years old, arrested on July 21 in Ahvaz, latest status: unknown
  92. 92. Abbas Sa’edi, arrested on July 22 in Hamidiyeh, latest status: unknown
  93. 93. Abbas Savari, son of a Naji, date of arrest; Unknown, arrested in Ahvaz, latest status: unknown
  94. 94. Abdol Amir Jalali (Abu Yahya), 45 years old, arrested on July 20 in Susangerd, latest status: unknown
  95. 95. Abdol Razzaq Vahid, 36 years old, married, arrested on July 22 in Elhaei, latest status: unknown
  96. 96. Abdolreza Soleimani, son of Yaber, arrested on July 18 in Khorramshahr, latest status: unknown
  97. 97. Abdollah Obaidawi, son of Mardav, arrested on July 22 in Shavur, latest status: unknown
  98. 98. Adnan Atabi, 21 years old, from Shavur, arrested on July 25 in Shavur, latest status: unknown
  99. 99. Erfan Naderi, arrested on July 26 in Kermanshah, latest status: unknown
  100. 100. Aziz Atabi, 19 years old, arrested on July 25 in Shavur, latest status: unknown
  101. 101. Ali Hassanzadeh, arrested in Tehran Latest status: unknown
  102. 102. Ali Khosraji, arrested on July 21 in Shavur, latest status: unknown
  103. 103. Ali Soleimani Tamimi, arrested on July 18 in Khorramshahr, latest status: unknown
  104. 104. Ali Soleimani, son of Yarollah, arrested on July 18 in Khorramshahr, latest status: unknown
  105. 105. Ali Abdol Hossein Gatafeh, arrested on July 18 in Khorramshahr, latest status: unknown
  106. 106. Ali Obaidavi, 23 years old, arrested on July 22 in Susangerd, latest status: unknown
  107. 107. Ali Agbi, a resident of Beit Khalaf village, date of arrest; Unknown, place of detention; Shavur, latest status: unknown
  108. 108. Ali Amoori, arrested on July 22 in Ramshir, latest status: unknown
  109. 109. Ali Ka’b Alhaei, 50 years old, arrested on July 20 in Ahvaz, latest status: unknown
  110. 110. Ali Ka’bi, Heydar’s son, arrested on July 21 in Shavur, latest status: unknown
  111. 111. Ali Mojaddam, son of Issa, arrested on July 22 in Chamran, latest status: unknown
  112. 112. Ali Mohsen Zeidan, arrested on July 21 in Shavur, latest status: unknown
  113. 113. Ali Mazraeh, son of a Shoai’e, arrested on July 17 in Shavur, latest status: unknown
  114. 114. Emad Abiat, son of Rahim, date of arrest; Unknown, Arrested in Susangerd, latest status: unknown
  115. 115. Issa Mazraeh, son of Abdolsadeh, arrested on July 16 in Ahvaz, latest status: unknown
  116. 116. Faraj Obaidai, 40 years old, arrested on July 19 in Bostan, latest status: unknown
  117. 117. Farzad Atabi, arrested on July 21 in Ramshir, latest status: unknown
  118. 118. Fallah Chaldavi, son of Hassan, 20 years old, married, arrested on July 21 in Ahvaz, latest status: unknown
  119. 119. Falak Amoori, arrested on July 22 in Ramshir, latest status: unknown
  120. 120. Fahad Heydari, son of Rahim, arrested on July 21 in Ahvaz, latest status: unknown
  121. 121. Faisal Mazraeh, arrested on July 17 in Shavur, latest status: unknown
  122. 122. Qasem Sae’di, arrested on July 22 in Hamidiyeh, latest status: unknown
  123. 123. Qasem Savari, son of Mohammad, arrested on July 23 in Ahvaz, latest status: unknown
  124. 124. Qasem Mazraeh, son of Amer, arrested on July 17 in Shavur, latest status: unknown
  125. 125. Kamran Norouzi, arrested in Tehran Last status: unknown
  126. 126. Karim Esmailzadeh, arrested on July 24 in Tabriz, latest status: released on bail
  127. 127. Majid Hamidi, 30 years old, resident of Mollasani, date of arrest; Unknown, arrested in Ahvaz, latest status: Uunknown
  128. 128. Malek Chaldavi, 28 years old, arrested on July 19 in Bostan, latest status: unknown
  129. 129. Mubarak Alhaei, son of Vahid, 45 years old, married and father of three children, arrested on July 22 in Alhaei, latest status: unknown
  130. 130. Mojtaba Salehi, son of Mohammad, 18 years old, arrested on July 20 in Susangerd, latest status: unknown
  131. 131. Mojtaba Abdoli, arrested on July 23 in Bostan, latest situation; unknown
  132. 132. Majid Mousavi, arrested on July 21 in Ramshir, latest status: unknown
  133. 133. Mohsen Abbaspour, arrested on 31 July in the city of Khajeh, latest situation; he was freed
  134. 134. Mohammad al-Bushouka, arrested on July 21 in Ramshir, latest status: unknown
  135. 135. Mohammad Pourali, arrested on July 22 in the city of Khajeh, latest situation; he was freed
  136. 136. Mohammad Harizavi, son of Badr, 24 years old, date of arrest: Unknown, arrested in Susangerd, latest status: unknown
  137. 137. Mohammad Sakhravi, 23 years old, date of arrest: unknown, place of detention: Ahvaz, latest status: unknown
  138. 138. Mohammad Askari, son of Ali, 29 years old, arrested on July 22 in Ahvaz, latest status: unknown
  139. 139. Mohammad Korushat, date of arrest; Unknown, place of detention; Ahvaz, latest status: unknown
  140. 140. Mohammad Ka’bi, son of Fakher, arrested on July 22 in Shavur, latest status: unknown
  141. 141. Mohammad Mujaddam, son of Issa, arrested on July 22 in Chamran, latest status: unknown
  142. 142. Mohammad Mahmoudi, arrested on July 24 during the Tabriz rallies, latest status: released on bail
  143. 143. Mohammad Mardi, arrested on July 24 in Tabriz, latest situation; unknown
  144. 144. Mohammad Niazi, arrested in Tehran on July23, latest status: He is detained in the quarantine of the Greater Tehran Prison.
  145. 145. Mohammad Amoori, arrested on July 21 in Ramshir, latest status: unknown
  146. 146. Mahmoud Sae’di, arrested on July 22 in Hamidiyeh, latest status: unknown
  147. 147. Muslim Echrash, arrested on July 22 in Ramshir, latest status: unknown
  148. 148. Mostafa Arfaei, arrested on July 23 in Tehran, latest status: is being held in quarantine in the Greater Tehran Prison.
  149. 149. Mansour Jalali, son of Mohammad, 17 years old, arrested on July 20 in Susangerd, latest status: unknown
  150. 150. Mansour Soleimani, son of Yaber, arrested on July 18 in Khorramshahr, latest status: unknown
  151. 151. Mehdi Hamid, arrested on July 19 in Ramshir, latest status: unknown
  152. 152. Mehdi Khasraji, son of Majid, arrested on July 22 in Shavur, latest status: unknown
  153. 153. Mehdi Zargani, son of Khalaf, 20 years old, arrested on July 22 in Ahvaz, latest status: unknown
  154. 154. Mehdi Zogheibi, arrested on July 20 in Ramshir, latest status: unknown
  155. 155. Mehdi Mesbah, arrested in Behbahan Last status: unknown
  156. 156. Meysam Savari, arrested on July 20 in Ahvaz, latest status: unknown
  157. 157. Milad Savari, arrested on July 21 in Ahvaz, latest status: unknown
  158. 158. Milad Obaidavi, 14 years old, arrested on July 19 in Bostan, latest status: unknown
  159. 159. Nader Sadeghian, arrested on July 25 in Tabriz, latest situation; unknown
  160. 160. Nader Abiyat, date of arrest; unknown, place of detention; Susangerd, latest status: unknown
  161. 161. Naser Zargani, son of Sha’lan, 27 years old, arrested on July 21 in Ahvaz, latest status: unknown
  162. 162. Narges Mohammadi, arrested on July 20 in Tehran Latest status: Released
  163. 163. Ne’mat Naderi, arrested on July 26 during a rally in Kermanshah, latest status: unknown
  164. 164. Hadi Mohammadi, date of arrest: unknown, latest status: released on a bail
  165. 165. Hashem Motavari, 27 years old, arrested on July 21 in Khorramshahr, latest status: unknown
  166. 166. Vahid Abhari, arrested on July 22 in Tabriz, latest situation: unknown
  167. 167. Vahid Mohammadi, date of arrest: unknown, latest situation: He is imprisoned in Tabriz prison and bail requested
  168. 168. Yarollah Soleimani, arrested on July 18 in Khorramshahr, latest status: unknown
  169. 169. Yashar Piri, arrested on July 22 in the city of Khajeh, latest situation; he was freed
  170. 170. Yousef Salahshour, a citizen of Tabriz, arrested on July 25, last status: unknown
  171. 171. Yousef Abiawi, 25 years old, arrested on July 21 in Ahvaz, latest status: unknown
According to confirmed reports and statistics documented by HRANA, public rallies began on the night of Thursday, July 15, in Khuzestan province due to the frequent water cuts and mismanagement of officials. Protests spreaded to other cities in the country, including Mashhad, Karaj, Saqez, Bojnourd, Ardabil, Tabriz, Aligudarz, Bandar Genaveh, Tehran, Robat Karim, Kermanshah, Meybod, Yazdanshahr and Baharestan of Isfahan, and Janqan section in Chaharmahal and Bakhtiari.

Citizens of Khuzestan marched rallies in at least 26 cities of Ahvaz, Susangerd, Hamidiyeh, Abadan, Kut Abdollah, Khorramshahr, Bandar Mahshahr, Bostan, Mollasani, Shadegan, Hoveyzeh, Abu Homeyzeh, Shavur, Karkheh, Kut Seyed Naeem, Shush, Veys, Chamran, Izeh, Behbahan, Masjed Soleiman, Sheiban, Ramshir, Alhaei, Ramhormoz, and Hor. In total, 41 cities in the country have staged protest rallies.

To have a better view, see the map of the dispersal of the protests from July 15 to July 26:

HRANA has documented and collected a total of 129 verified videos related to the 13 days of protests, which can be viewed on HRANA’s YouTube channel or in the continuation of this report.

 

***

For media interviews, contact Skylar Thompson at [email protected].

 

 

Widespread Protests Continue in Iran, Rallies Held in Tehran and Karaj

On Monday, July 26, citizens in Tehran and Karaj held protest rallies in which protesters chanted slogans against the current situation in the country. According to HRANA, the news agency of Human Rights Activists, today’s protests fall on the first day after a week-long holiday in Tehran,  Iran’s capital, and Alborz Province.

Hamidreza Goodarzi, the deputy security director of Tehran Province, said that the situation has returned to normal and attributed the protests only to the power outage in a cellphone market center in Tehran. Tehran Governor Anoushirvan Mohseni Band-Pey has threatened to identify the protests’ organizers.

During these rallies, protesters chanted slogans such as “From Karaj to Khuzestan, unity, unity”, “Death to the dictator”, “Shame on Khamenei, leave the power”, “Iranians will die but won’t accept humiliation”, “The mullah must go away”, “Do not be afraid, do not be afraid, we are all together,” “Zealous Iranians, support, support” and “Neither Gaza nor Lebanon, I give my life for Iran.”

The gathering of Tehran citizens faced a large presence of police forces and efforts to disperse the people.

A source familiar with the Tehran protest rally told HRANA, “First, a rally started in the streets in Tehran with anti-government slogans; then, shop holders in the cell phone market chanted against the government after the power outage.”

Despite the release of videos of marches and protests by hundreds of Tehranians, Fars News Agency, the media close to the IRGC, released a short video of these rallies and said the number of attendees is only about 50 shop holders and the reason for the protest is only the two hours power outage.

From the night of Thursday, July 15th, public rallies in protest of water shortage and mismanagement of officials began in Khuzestan province and spread to more than 30 cities. On Saturday, July 24, citizens of Tabriz showed their support for the protests in Khuzestan by holding street protests and marches. Many were arrested during the protests in Tabriz.

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Khuzestan Protests: 102 Detained and 10 are said to be Killed, HRANA can only Confirm 5

According to HRANA, the news agency of Human Rights Activists, several people have been killed, dozens injured, and hundreds more arrested in the last week in relation to protests in Khuzestan. HRANA has been able to identify 102 detained in cities in Khuzestan, 3 detained in Tehran in support of the people of Khuzestan, and 10 are said to have been killed, 5 of whom HRANA has confirmed so far. Names follow.

Widespread protests started in Khuzestan province on the night of Thursday, July 15, in response to the resource mismanagement that has led to the water crisis. Protests have been going for the past seven days and have spread to at least 30 cities.

HRANA has received videos showing the heavy presence of security forces and special forces vehicles in a number of cities in Khuzestan province, including Izeh and Masjed Soleiman.

Citizens in cities such as Meybod in Yazd province and Robat Karim around Tehran have rallied in support of the Khuzestan protesters.

Meanwhile, cities in Khuzestan Province are experiencing a severe decrease in internet speed and connection. The global internet watchdog website “Netblocks” earlier confirmed the internet disruptions since the protests took place in Khuzestan saying that “widespread Internet disruptions in Iran have occurred since Thursday last week following popular protests in Khuzestan province and it continues.”

Today, the Deputy Commander of the Lorestan Police confirmed that a young man was killed and seven others were injured in a shooting during last night’s protests in Aligudarz.

Detention of hundreds of protesting citizens

HRANA has received several reports pointing to the detention of hundreds of people, but verifying the identities of all detainees has been difficult due to the lack of transparency in reports from Iran’s official authorities, and the Islamic republic of Iran does not allow human rights organizations operate inside Iran. However, HRANA was able to identify 102 detained in Khuzestan and 3 in Tehran, and while reportedly 10 have been killed, HRANA has verified the identities of 5, as follows:

Identity of 10 killed citizens:

1- Mostafa Naeemawi – killed on July 16 at Shadegan – Status: Verified by HRANA

2- Ghasem Naseri (Khaziri) – was wounded on July 16 and died on July 17 at Kut Abdollah – Status: Verified by HRANA

3- Meysam Echrash – was wounded on July 18 and died on July 21 Karkhe – Status: Verified by HRANA

4- Hadi Bahmani – was killed on 21-Jul at Izeh – Status: Verified by Hrana

5- Omid Azarkhosh – was killed on 22-Jul at ` Aligudarz – Status: Verified by HRANA

6- Amir Moshari (Ebadi)– from Mahshahr– Status: Status: under review

7- Isaa Baledi – from Taleghani town in Mahshahr – Status: under review

8- Mohammad Chenani –from Shush – Status: under review

9- Hamzeh (Farzad Farisat) – from Ahvaz – Status: under review

10- Hamid Mojaddam (Jokari) – from Mahshahr – Status: under review

 

HRANA has been able to verify the names of 105 arrested citizens in different cities as are listed below.

People arrested in the city of Ahvaz:

1 – Mohammad Koroshat – Arrested on date not specified

2 – Abas Zargani – Arrested on July 21

3 – Abbas Savari – Arrested on date not specified

4 – Ahmad Savari – Arrested on July 20

5 – Ali Ka’b Alhaei – Arrested on July 20

6 – Amer Zuhairi – Arrested on July 17

7 – Basem Zargani – Arrested on July 21

8 – Basem Heydari – Arrested on date not specified

9 – Fahd Heydari – Arrested on July 21

10 – Fallah Chaldavi – Arrested on July 21

11 – Hamoud Chenani – Arrested on July 17

12 – Hamoud Shamousi – Arrested on July 17

13 – Hassan Saeedi – Arrested on date not specified

14 – Isa Mazra’eh – Arrested on July 16

15 – Meysam Savari – Arrested on July 21

16 – Milad Savari – Arrested on July 21

17 – Mohammad Sakhrawi – Arrested on date not specified

18 – Mohammad Askari – Arrested on July 21

19 – Naser Zargani – Arrested on July 21

20 – Ra’d Heydari – Arrested on July 21

 

People arrested in the city of Bostan:

21 – Faraj Obaidai – Arrested on July 19

22 – Jasem Chaldavi – Arrested on July 19

23 – Malek Chaldavi – Arrested on July 19

24 – Milad Obaidawi – Arrested on July 19

25 – Milad savari – Arrested on July 21

 

People arrested in the city of Chamran:

26 – Ahmad Mujaddam – Arrested on July 22

27 – Ali Mujaddam – Arrested on July 22

28 – Mohammad Mujaddam – Arrested on July 22

 

People arrested in the city of Elhaei:

29 – Abbas Alhaei – Arrested on July 22

30 – Abbas Khovin – Arrested on July 22

31 – Abdol Razzaq Vahid – Arrested on July 22

32 – Amir Alhaei – Arrested on July 22

33 – Mobarak Alhaei – Arrested on July 22

 

People arrested in the city of Hamidiyeh:

34 – Abas Saedi – Arrested on July 22

35 – Ghasem Saedi – Arrested on July 22

36 – Mahmoud Saedi – Arrested on July 22

37 – Rasool Sava’edi – Arrested on July 22

38 – Razi Dahimawi – Arrested on July 21

39 – Sadegh Abyat – Arrested on July 22

40 – Sadegh Saedi – Arrested on July 22

41 – Tiban Saedi – Arrested on July 22

 

People arrested in the city of Khorramshahr:

42 – Abdolreza Soleimani – Arrested on July 18

43 – Ali Soleimani – Arrested on July 18

44 – Ali Soleimani Tamimi – Arrested on July 18

45 – Ali Abdol Hossein Gatafah – Arrested on July 18

46 – Basem Soleimani – Arrested on July 18

47 – Darem Soleimani – Arrested on July 18

48 – Mansour Soleimani – Arrested on July 18

49 – Yarallah Soleimani – Arrested on July 18

 

People arrested in the city of Lordegan:

50 – Ahura Mohammadi – Arrested on July 22

51 – Behnam Hassani – Arrested on July 22

52 – Hamed Hassani – Arrested on July 22

53 – Majed Hamidi – Arrested on date not specified at city of Mollasani

 

People arrested in the city of Ramshir:

54 – Ahmad Asli – Arrested on July 21

55 – Ali Amoori – Arrested on July 22

56 – Falak Amoori – Arrested on July 22

57 – Farzad Atabi – Arrested on July 21

58 – Hamed Khaledi – Arrested on July 21

59 – Hassan Amoori – Arrested on July 20

60 – Heydar AlBushoke – Arrested on July 21

61 – Jasem Tusi – Arrested on July 20

62 – Javad Jaberi – Arrested on July 21

63 – Khaled Amoori – Arrested on July 22

64 – Khaled Amoori – Arrested on  July 21

65 – Majid Mousavi – Arrested on July 21

66 – Mehdi Hamid – Arrested on July 19

67 – Mehdi Zoghibi – Arrested on July 20

68 – Mohammad Amoori – Arrested on July 21

69 – Moslem Echrash – Arrested on  July 22

70 – Muhammad AlBushoke – Arrested on July 21

71 – Omid Tusi – Arrested on July 20

72 – Sajad Mousavi – Arrested on July 21

73 – Saleh Khaledi – Arrested on July 21

 

People arrested in the city of Shavur:

74 – Abdollah Obaidawi – Arrested on July 22

75 – Ali Khosraji – Arrested on July 21

76 – Ali Mohsen Zidan – Arrested on July 21

77 – Ali Ka’bi – Arrested on July 21

78 – Ali Agbi – Arrested on date not specified

79 – Ali Mazrae – Arrested on July 17

80 – Ali Ka’bi – Arrested on July 22

81 – Ayub Abboud al-Namnum – Arrested on July 22

82 – Faysal Mazrae – Arrested on July 17

83 – Ghasem Mazrae – Arrested on July 17

84 – Hassan Mohsen Zidan – Arrested on July 21

85 – Hossein Shomli – Arrested on July 22

86 – Jamil Obaidawi – Arrested on July 21

87 – Khaled Mazrae – Arrested on  July 17

88 – Mehdi Khosraji – Arrested on July 22

89 – Mohammad Ka’bi – Arrested on July 22

90 – Saleh Obaidawi – Arrested on July 21

91 – Seyed Hassoun Iraqi – Arrested on July 22

 

People arrested in the city of Susangerd:

92 – Abdol Amir Jalali (Abu Yahya) – Arrested on July 20

93 – Adel Naderi – Arrested on July 20

94 – Ayad Abiyat – Arrested on date not specified

95 – Emad Abiyat – Arrested on date not specified

96 – Hamze Afrawi – Arrested on  July 20

97 – Ismail Jalali – Arrested on July 21

98 – Mansour Jalali – Arrested on July 20

99 – Mohammad Harizawi – Arrested on date not specified

100 – Mujtaba Salehi – Arrested on July 20

101 – Nader Abiyat – Arrested on date not specified

102 – Reza Afrawi – Arrested on July 20

 

People arrested in the city of Tehran:

103 – Mohammad Niyazi – Arrested on July 23

104 – Mostafa Arfai – Arrested on July 23

105 – Omid Saeedi – Arrested on July 23

***

Read our  Day 8 fact sheet for more info on what is going on in Khuzestan. For media interviews, contact Skylar Thompson at [email protected].

 

 

HRANA Recap: This Week’s Protests in Iran

The Khuzestan Water Crisis dominated this week’s protests in Iran. Citizens in over 28 cities held rallies in protest of the mismanagement from officials that has led to water shortages throughout the province and the drying of the Karun river. A number of labor protests took place as well, and in some areas the ongoing oil protests continued.

Friday July 16 & Saturday July 17

Farmers in Dezful, a group of workers Haft Tappeh Sugarcane Agro-Industry Co, fired workers and pest control workers of Haft Tappeh, members of Jam-e- Jam employees’ housing cooperative in Tehran, and a number of workers of Kut Abdollah municipality rallied protests and called on their demands to be met. On Saturday, the people of Khuzestan protested the water cut in the cities of Shavaur, Karkheh, Susangard, Kut Seyed Naeem, Shadegan, Ahvaz, Kut Abdollah, Hamidiyeh, and Shush. In addition, the people of Mashhad in Khorasan Razavi province joined the rallies in support of the people of Khuzestan.

Fired workers of Haft Tappeh:


Pest control workers of Haft Tappeh:

Rally of farmers in Dezful:

 

Workers of Haft Tappeh Sugarcane Agro-Industry:

 

Employees of Jam-e- Jam housing cooperative in Tehran:

 

Workers of Kut Abdollah municipality:

Sunday, July 18

A group of workers of Shafa Rud dam in Gilan, retirees in Rasht and Mashhad, a number of official forces of Ahvaz Water and Sewerage Company, retirees of Isfahan steel and Khuzestan steel in their provinces, a group of workers of Haft Tappeh company from all sectors for a sixth day in the row, a group of striking workers of the Dehdasht oil projects, and a number of welders of the Hafshejan pipeline project demanded that their requests be addressed. Meanwhile, on the fourth day of the protests in Khuzestan, People in Susangard, and Ahvaz marched rallies, which were met with shooting and tear gas from military forces.

Workers of Dehdasht and Hafshejan projects:

 

 

Workers of Shafa Rud dam in Gilan:

Retirees in Rasht and Mashhad:

Official forces of Ahvaz Water and Sewerage Company:

Retirees of Isfahan steel, and Khuzestan steel:

 

Workers Haft Tappeh Sugarcane Agro-Industry:

 

Monday July 19 and Tuesday July 20

A number of Caspian Institute shareholders in Tehran, a group of retirees of East Azerbaijan Telecommunication Company in Tabriz, a group of suburban bus and minibus drivers in Tehran, a numberof workers Haft Tappeh Sugarcane Agro-Industry workers from all sectors for the seventh and eighth consecutive day, collectors of burnt oil In Tehran, a group of workers from the Sungun copper mine and the staff of the Ajin Iron Company, and  a number of fired workers from the municipality of District 2 in Ahvaz held rallies.

Additionally, a group of workers of the oil projects of Pian village in Khuzestan, a number of workers of the Lordegan oil projects, a group from workers in oil projects in Gahru, some operational staff of POGC company, a number of office employees of the oil industry in Fajr Jam gas refining company, contract workers of phases 9 and 10 of South Pars region, a number of farmers of Isfahan, a number of cattle breeders of Neishabour held protest rallies and called on their demands to be addressed. Also, a widespread protest of the people of Khuzestan against water cuts and mismanagement was ongoing in the fifth and sixth days, in different cities of Ahvaz, Mahshahr, Kut Abdollah, Khorramshahr, Chamran, Hamidiyeh, Ramhormoz, Susangar, Veys, Shadegan, Abadan and Izeh.

Caspian Institute shareholders:

East Azerbaijan Telecommunication Company in Tabriz:

Suburban bus and minibus drivers in Tehran:

Workers of Haft Tappeh Sugarcane Agro-Industry:

 

Workers of the Lordegan oil projects:

 

Workers from the municipality of District 2 in Ahvaz:

Workers of the oil projects of Pian village in Izeh, Khuzestan:

 

Cattle breeders of Neishabour:

 

Farmers in Isfahan:

 

Contract workers of phases 9 and 10 of South Pars region:

Official employees of Fajr Jam gas refinery:

Workers in oil projects in Gahru:

 

Operational staff of POGC company:

Wednesday, July 21

A number of film and television artists in Tehran rallied supporting protesters in Khuzestan. A group of workers from workers Haft Tappeh Sugarcane Agro-Industry from all sectors of the company held protest rallies for the ninth day in a row, calling their demands to be addressed. Also, widespread protests by the people of Khuzestan against water shortage and lack of water management continued in the cities of the province, including Ramshir,Susangard, Sheiban, Elahi, Ahvaz, Masjed Soleiman, Behbahan, and Bandar Mahshahr. In at least two other cities, including Yazdan in Isfahan and Bandar Genaveh in Bushehr province, people rallied in support of the people of Khuzestan.

Film and television artists in Tehran:

Workers from workers Haft Tappeh Sugarcane Agro-Industry:

Thursday, July 22

A number of workers and employees of Khorasan Railway, a group of farmers of Shabiluy village from Poldasht, West Azerbaijan province, a number of workers Haft Tappeh Sugarcane Agro-Industry from all sectors, for the tenth day in a row held protest rallies and called on their demands to be addressed. Also,a number of employed and retired teachers in Kermanshah province supported the protests of the people of Khuzestan by holding a rally in Kermanshah.

Teachers in Kermanshah supported the protests of the people of Khuzestan:

Workers and employees of Khorasan Railway:

Farmers of Shabiluy village in Poldasht, West Azerbaijan:

Workers Haft Tappeh Sugarcane Agro-Industry:

 

 

Update on Khuzestan: Military Atmosphere and Internet Outages

On the evening of Thursday, July 22, reports and images were published showing that protests took place in Genaveh in Bushehr Province.

According to HRANA, the news agency of Human Rights Activists, as of today internet access has been cut off in most parts of Khuzestan.

Protests started in Khuzestan province on the night of Thursday, July 15, in response to the resource mismanagement that has led to the water crisis.  The protests began on Thursday, July 15, and have now spread to at least 28 cities.

During the last eight days, several citizens have been injured and the killing of three protesting citizens and a police officer has been confirmed by provincial officials. 17-year-old Hadi Bahmani, who was killed during the protest in Izeh yesterday, was buried today. Local sources say the death toll is at least double that number, but HRANA has thus far been unable to confirm its accuracy.

Ali Shamkhani, secretary of the Supreme National Security Council, has published an article on his social media in which he states, “The security forces have been ordered to immediately release the detainees who did not commit any criminal acts in the recent incidents in Khuzestan.”

At the same time, various judicial and security officials have said they will counter “anti-revolutionaries”. Dezful Governor Ali Farahmandpour called the protests “riots”.

“The rioters will be dealt with severely,” Farahmandpour said. “These riots have nothing to do with agricultural water. The rioters are opportunists who call for a counter-revolution.”

These remarks have raised concerns about the violent treatment of protesters.

The Iran Music House, and the Theater Forum issued statements in support of the protests of the people in Khuzestan and condemned any violent treatment of the legitimate demands of the people.

The global internet watchdog website “Netblocks” has confirmed the internet disruptions since the protests took place in Khuzestan saying that “widespread Internet disruptions in Iran have occurred since Thursday last week following popular protests in Khuzestan province and it continues.”

Read our fact sheet for more info on what is going on in Khuzestan.

 

Civil Activists Released Hours After Arrest in Tehran During March Supporting Khuzestan

On Tuesday, July 20, civil activists Narges Mohammadi, Arash Sadeghi, Arash Kaykhosravi, Ruhollah Mardani, Jafar Azimzadeh, Rasoul Bodaghi, Pouran Nazemi, Hamid Asefi, and Behzad Homayouni, were released from custody a couple of hours after their arrest.

According to HRANA, the news agency of Human Rights Activists, the activists were beaten and arrested while marching in support of the people of Khuzestan.

Before their arrest, they had said in a video that a number of them had been beaten in front of the Interior Ministry by military forces.

During the last six days, people in Khuzestan province have been protesting frequent water cuts, and lack of water resources management in the cities of Ramhormoz, Shavur, Karkheh, Chamran, Kut Seyed Naeem, Shush, Ahvaz, Abadan, Hamidiyeh, Bostan, Susangard, Mahshahr, Khorramshahr, Shadegan, Kut Abdollah, Mollasani, Hoveyzeh, Abu Homeyzeh, and Veys.

Mass Protests in Khuzestan Continue for Seventh Day

Today, the cities of Susangard, Behbahan, Abadan, Izeh, Ahvaz, Khorramshahr, Ramhormoz, and Shadegan, staged protest rallies that were confronted by military forces with arrests, tear gas, and bullets.

 

 

Widespread protests started in Khuzestan province on the night of Thursday, July 15, in response to the resource mismanagement that has led to the water crisis. Protests have been going for the past seven days and have spread to at least 22 cities.

According to HRANA, the news agency of Human Rights Activists, at least four civilians and one police officer have been confirmed as killed since the start of the protests. HRANA was able to verify the identities of those killed since Thursday as Meysam Echresh from Taleghani in Mahshahr, Mostafa Naeemawi from Shadegan, Ghasem Naseri from Kut Abdollah, and officer Zargham Parast in Mahshahr. According to local sources, a number of additional citizens have been injured during the protests as well.

Disconnections and a severe decrease in Internet speed in some cities of Khuzestan province have been reported on social media. Previously, a resident of Ahvaz told HRANA that the internet of all carriers is disconnected, and people cannot access the internet through phones.

Received videos show the presence of a large number of military forces around Azadi Square in Tehran and the security atmosphere for facing possible protests.

The scope of the violence against the protesting people of Khuzestan have elicited reactions from numerous different sections of society. In a statement, the Tehran Teachers’ Union condemned the suppression of the Khuzestan protests and blamed the government for the resource problems. 330 artists gave a statement which condemned the suppression of protests and expressed solidarity with the protesters.

Several film and television artists gathered in front of the Artists’ House to show their support. The players of the Abadan Oil Industry soccer team, the Iranian Writers Association, and the Iranian Cinema House all issued statements in support of the protesters, and calling on the relevant authorities to address the situation.

Today, videos broadcasted on social networks show people marching in Yazdanshahr in Isfahan in support of the people of Khuzestan. Also, people in Masjed Soleyman, Ramshir, Shahrui village of Behbahan, and Ahvaz in Khuzestan marched and held protest rallies.

***

Read our fact sheet for more info on what is going on in Khuzestan. For media interviews, contact Skylar Thompson at [email protected].