The Islamic Republic of Iran Broadcasting (IRIB) confirmed that a citizen was killed during last night’s protests in Izeh, Khuzestan.
According to HRANA, the news agency of Human Rights Actiists, the IRIB report did not specify the identity of the killed citizen. However, it described his death as a result of a “suspicious” shooting—notably vague phrasing, considering that the overwhelming majority of gunfire throughout the protests has come from government forces.
Widespread protest rallies in Khuzestan started Thursday, July 15, in response to the negligence of officials that led to frequent cuts of drinking water and the drying of Karun River.
The demonstrations against the water cuts and lack of proper resource management continued yesterday into their sixth day. Rallies were held in Susangard, Behbahan, Abadan, Izeh, Ahvaz, Khorramshahr and Shadegan.
Hassan Nabovati, acting governor of Izeh, stated that one police officer was killed and another injured during the protests in Mahshahr last night.
As released videos show, the protests in Izeh were disrupted by violence from military forces. There were reports of military officers spraying tear gas and opening fire at protesters.
Today, July 20, the widespread protests in Khuzestan over the ongoing water crisis continued for a sixth consecutive day. Since the start of the protests on Thursday, provincial authorities have confirmed that at least two civilians have been killed by military forces.
According to HRANA, the news agency of Human Rights Activists, today’s protests took place in the cities of Izeh, Khorramshahr, Ahvaz, Shadegan, Abadan, Susangard, and Behbahan. HRANA received reports of shootings and internet shutdowns in some areas, as well as a report of the death of a protester, but neither have been confirmed as of this writing.
Today a number of prominent civil activists also gathered in Tehran to voice their support for the protesters in Khuzestan, and were met with violence from security forces. Activists Narges Mohammadi, Arash Sadeghi, Arash Kaykhosravi, Ruhollah Mardani, Jafar Azimzadeh, Rasoul Bodaghi, Pooran Nazemi, Hamid Asefi, and Behzad Homayouni were arrested by security forces in Tehran and taken to an unknown location.
Below is our updated map of the protests of the last five days.
Several activists were arrested in Tehran following a rally in support of the citizens of Khuzestan amidst the ongoing protests over water shortages in the province.
According to HRANA, the news agency of Human Rights Activists, the arrested activists have been identified as Narges Mohammadi, Arash Sadeghi, Arash Kaykhosravi, Ruhollah Mardani, Jafar Azimzadeh, Rasoul Bodaghi, Pooran Nazemi, Hamid Asefi, and Behzad Homayouni.
The detention of these citizens was violent and accompanied by beatings. Earlier today, in a video, Narges Mohammadi stated, “We wanted to gather in front of the Ministry of Interior to protest the killing of innocent – thirsty people in Khuzestan, but we were treated violently by security forces and some of us were beaten. Now we are marching in a street in Tehran to support the people of Khuzestan.”
During the last six days, people in Khuzestan Province have been protesting the frequent water cuts and mismanagement of water sources in at least 20 cities.
Since the second day of the protests, provincial officials have confirmed that two citizens, 30-year-old Mostafa Naeemawi from Shadegan, and 17-year-old Ghasem Naseri (Khaziri) from the Kut Abdollah area of Ahvaz, were killed during the protests. HRANA has received reports, which have yet to be verified, of a third civilian additionally being shot dead by military forces.
The exact status of the detained activists and their whereabouts are unknown at the time of writing.
More than 130 documentarians signed a statement entitled “And water crisis ignited, again” regarding the widespread protests in Khuzestan.
According to HRANA, the news agency of Human Rights Activists, the statement condemned acts of violence against the people of Khuzestan.
“We, the documentary directors, have always reflected the difficulties and will of our people based on our work tradition,” the signatories wrote in the statement, “and today we stand by the thirsty people of Khuzestan and strongly condemn the repression of the people.”
Since the night of Thursday, July 15, dozens of rallies have been held in protest of the mismanagement that has led to water cuts in Khuzestan cities. Military and police forces have responded violently to the protests, and, in a few cases, opened fire on civilians.
Today, July 19, the widespread protests in Khuzestan over the mismanagement of officials regarding the ongoing water crisis continued for a fifth consecutive day. Since the start of the protests on Thursday, provincial authorities have confirmed that at least two civilians have been killed by military forces.
According to HRANA, the news agency of Human Rights Activists, today’s rallies in Khuzestan took place in Hamidiyeh, Ahvaz, Kut Abdullah, Susangard, Ramhormoz, Mahshahr, Khorramshahr, Veys, and Chamranhere. There were no reports of violence or shootings by government forces except a report from Chamran city, which seems to be aerial shooting.
The weekend’s demonstrations also saw heavy escalation. As shown in videos previously published by HRANA, the Susangard protests were responded to with violence from on-duty military forces this Sunday. In multiple areas police opened fire on unarmed protesters.
The protestors blocked the roads connecting Ahvaz to Khorramshahr and Ahvaz to Shush by lighting fires. There have also reportedly been sporadic internet outages across the province.
Since the second day of the protests, provincial officials have confirmed that two citizens, 30-year-old Mostafa Naeemawi from Shadegan, and 17-year-old Ghasem Naseri (Khaziri) from the Kut Abdollah area of Ahvaz, were killed during the protests. HRANA has received reports, which have yet to be verified, of a third civilian additionally being shot dead by military forces.
Previously, the governor of Khuzestan said, “The published videos of the protests in the province are fake and no protest has taken place.”
“Some seek to provoke the people and publish fake images of the protests in cyberspace,” the governor further stated. “For example, nothing has happened in the cities of Khorramshahr and Susangard, but clips related to the past events are published in cyberspace!”
Public rallies to protest the water cuts and lack of access to drinking water began on the night of Thursday, July 15, and have spread to at least 17 cities so far.
During the last four days, people protested in at least 17 cities, including Shavur, Karkheh, Kut Seyed Naeem, Shush, Ahvaz, Abadan, Hamidiyeh, Bostan, Susangard, Bandar Mahshahr, Khorramshahr, Shadegan, Kut Abdollah, Mollasani, Hoveyzeh, and Abou Homeyzeh in Khuzestan Province and Mashhad. In some of the released videos, the sounds of gunfire can be heard, and a recurring theme across the footage is the heavy presence of armed military and security forces.
Local sources published reports, as of yet unverified, that several protesting citizens were injured and many others were detained in the city of Khorramshahr. So far, Abdolreza Soleimani, Darem Soleimani, Mansour Soleimani, Yarullah Soleimani and his son Ali Soleimani, all residents of Khorramshahr, are reportedly detained.
Workers at the Haft Tappeh Sugarcane Agro-Industry Company supported protests in Khuzestan during their rally and march on Sunday, July 18.
A resident of Ahvaz told HRANA about the situation in the city, “Special forces from other places are quickly (being) deployed to Ahvaz to suppress young protestors. Access to drinking water is one of the most basic civil rights. While Khuzestan was once considered the most water-rich province in the country, the mismanagement has led to the crisis of supply of drinking water in Khuzestan to become a serious challenge for people.”
Mahmoud Ahmadi Bighash, a representative of Shazand City in Parliament, said that providing water and development is an immediate responsibility of the entire government. Bighash wrote in a tweet:
“The situation in Khuzestan is concerning, I point it out indirectly, be very careful about what happened in Khuzestan; open all the [Karun River’s] water sources to quench Khuzestan’s thirst and put out the fire.”
Abdullah Izad Panah, Speaker of the House of Representatives of Khuzestan, also gave a statement in a recent meeting about crisis management in which he criticized the water transfer projects in the province.
“Water transfer projects should be stopped,” the representative said. “Drought is just one side of the issue. The transfer of water has caused Khuzestan to fall to this condition.”
Earlier, Jalil Mokhtar, the representative of Abadan, considered the problems caused by the transfer of water from Khuzestan province to other provinces, and mismanagement.
“Unfortunately, we have witnessed the water transfer from Khuzestan to other areas based on government approvals,” Mokhtar said. “Khuzestan, which was a fertile plain, is now on a desertification path.”
The Human Rights Defenders Association wrote an open letter to the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights expressing concern about the suppression of protesters of the water crisis by security officials and calling for an end to the suppression.
“Khuzestan province, despite having rich oil resources, is among the most deprived provinces in Iran, and its residents are facing a high range unemployment, losing water sources, polluted air, and frequent power outages, so their protests are completely justified, and the response must not be bullets and imprisonment.”
Watch our compilation of video footage taken at various protests throughout the province.
According to HRANA, the news agency of Human Rights Activists, a number of protests took place in different parts of the country this week. Below is a quick recap and footage from the demonstrations.
Friday July 9 and Saturday July 10
Several civil and political activists in Tehran, several bakers in Qazvin, a group of women from Nasir Mahalla and Shalma villages located in Shaft county, a group of pest control workers from Haft Tappeh Sugarcane Company, residents of Marqa village from the central part Izeh city, a group of employees of Qom Health Care Services, workers of rural telecommunication agents in Mashhad, a group of taxi drivers in Marivan, Kurdestan, residents of Ahvaz concerned about the drying rivers in Khuzestan province, workers of Kut Abdullah municipality, and a number of bakery workers in Neyshabur all held protest rallies on Friday and Saturday of last week.
Qazvin bakers:
Civil and political activists in Tehran in support of Manouchehr Bakhtiari:
Women from Nasir Mahalla and Shalma villages:
Haft Tappeh sugarcane workers:
Marqa village residents in Izeh:
Employees of health services in Qom:
Workers of rural telecommunication agents in Mashhad:
Taxi drivers in Marivan, Kurdestan:
Residents in Ahvaz protesting rivers in danger of drying, in Khuzestan:
Workers of Kut Abdullah municipality:
Sunday, July 11
A group of shareholders of Cryptoland exchange in Tehran, a group of pest control workers of Haft Tappeh Sugarcane Company for the 16th consecutive day, Mashhad bakery workers, a group of retirees the Steel of Isfahan, retirees seeking social security in the cities of Rasht and Ahvaz, a group of water and sewage workers from the Azadegan plain in Khuzestan called on their demands to be addressed through protest rallies. Also, the strikes of contract workers of several companies affiliated with the oil, petrochemical, and power plants companies are still expanding, and so far, workers of 105 industrial units in different provinces of the country have stopped working and joined the strikes.
Cryptoland shareholders:
Pest control workers of Haft Tappeh:
Bakers in Mashhad:
Retirees the Steel of Isfahan company:
Retirees of social security in the cities of Rasht and Ahvaz:
Water and sewage workers from the Azadegan plain in Khuzestan:
Monday, July 12
A group of pharmacists in Tehran and Shiraz, contract workers of Kut Abdollah municipality, a group of pesticide workers of Haft Tappeh Sugarcane Company for the 17th day in a row, drivers of Urmia minibus fleets, several workers of Khorasan Petrochemical Company, A group of people from Chabahar city in Sistan and Baluchestan province, a group of doctors, faculty members andresidents of the dermatology field, and a group of workers from Urmia Municipality all held protest gatherings.
Residents of Chabahr in Sistan and Baluchestan Province:
Pharmacists in Tehran:
Pharmacists in Shiraz:
Contract workers of Kut Abdollah municipality:
Workers of Haft Tappeh Sugarcane Company:
Physicians in Tehran
Workers of Khorasan Petrochemical Company:
Tuesday July 13
Several bakery workers in Mashhad, workers of Haft Tappeh Company from all sectors, a group of Ahvaz Municipality workers held protests this Tuesday. Additionally, marches against frequent water and electricity cuts were held in the cities of Khorramshahr and Qasr-e-qand.
Residents of Khorramshahr:
Workers of Ahvaz municipality:
Bakers in Mashhad
Workers of Haft Tappeh Company from all sectors:
Wednesday, July 14
Ranchers in four cities, including Shahrekord, Neyshabur, Birjand, and Torbat Heydariyeh, a group of workers from Haft Tappeh Company from all sectors for the second day and workers of the pest control department for the nineteenth consecutive day protested this Wednesday. A group of people from the western Hume, a number of social security workers and retirees, as well as a group of farmers in the villages of Janadaleh and Khazrajin Hamidiyeh in Khuzestan Province, drivers of tankers truck and fuel trucks in Qasr Shirin held demonstrations of protest as well.
Ranchers in Neyshabur:
Workers from Haft Tappeh Company from all sectors:
Pest control workers of Haft Tappeh:
Residents of western Hume:
Retirees of social security:
Farmers in Khuzestan:
Drivers of tanker trucks:
Thursday July 15
at least 13 rallies protest were held this Thursday. A group of workers of Ahvaz Municipality, workers of Jahan Pars Company, bakers and workers in Bojnourd in of North Khorasan, a group of workers of Haft Tappeh Company from all sectors and workers of the pest control department of this company for the twentieth day protested. Several environmental activists in Isfahan, residents in Sepehr town located in Karaj, farmers in the villages of Bavi district of Ahvaz city – Masjed Soleiman, some cities of Khuzestan including Abadan, Hamidiyeh, Bostan, Susangard and Mahshahr port due to water cut and lack of access to Drinking water also separately marched and protested in their respective cities.
Workers of Ahvaz Municipality:
Workers of Jahan Pars Company:
Gathering of bakers and bakery workers in Bojnourd:
Rally of Haft Tappeh workers
Residents in Sepehr town in Karaj:
Farmers in Bavi village:
Protesters in Khuzestan Province (including Hamidiyeh, Bostan, Susanger, Shadegan) in light of ongoing water shortages:
A month after the arrest of labor activist Maziar Seyednejad, he is still in detention and his fate is unknown.
According to HRANA, the news agency of Human Rights Activists, Seyednejad was arrested on June 7 by security forces at his home in Tehran. From there, he was as transferred to Ward 209 of Evin Prison, one of the solitary confinement cells of the Ministry of Intelligence Detention Center.
A few days after his arrest, during a brief phone call under the supervision of security forces, Seyednejad informed his family that he is unaware of the reasons for his detention. Despite the family’s inquiries, the reasons for the arrest and the charges against the labor activist are unknown at the time of writing.
Recently, Branch 16 of the Court of Appeals in Khuzestan Province upheld Mr. Seyednejad’s 3-year prison sentence.
On June 19, teacher union activist Massoud Hamidnia was arrested by IRGC intelligence agents at his home in the city of Shush in Khuzestan Province.
According to HRANA, the news agency of Human Rights Activists, security forces raided his home without a warrant and confiscated several of his personal belongings including his laptop and mobile phone.
The detained activist is suffering from medical problems such as rheumatoid arthritis, and he has been denied access to his medications since the arrest, raising concern among his family.
Hamidnia’s family was told that he had been arrested in connection with his activities on social media and cyberspace regarding the recent presidential election.
As of this writing, no information is available on his whereabouts or the charges against him. Hamidnia has thus far only been allowed to make one short phone call to his family.
According to HRANA, the news agency of Human Rights Activists, a number of protests took place in different parts of the country this week. Below is a quick recap and footage from the demonstrations.
Saturday, June 12
On Saturday, June 12, a group of rice farmers in Khuzestan rallied in front of the governor’s office. In Tehran, retired drivers of the Tehran Bus Company gathered in front of the company’s headquarters. Contract workers of the maintenance unit for Tehran Metro Line 5 held a rally in front of Hashtgerd metro station, a group of shareholders of Cryptoland Exchange who lost money to the company rallied in front of the Economic Crimes Court building, and family members of SMA patients gathered in front of the Ministry of Health building.
Rice farmers in Khuzestan:
Retired bus drivers in Tehran:
Workers of the maintenance unit for Tehran Metro:
Shareholders of Cryptoland Exchange:
Sunday, June 13
On Sunday, June 13, a group of shopkeepers in Gachsaran in Kohgiluyeh and Boyer-Ahmad Province gathered in front of the governor’s office. A group of veterans who were injured during the Iran-Iraq war rallied in front of the Martyr Foundation building in Tehran, several drivers and workers of the Tehran Bus Company heled a rally in front of the city council building, and Cryptoland exchange shareholders gathered in front of the Economic Crimes court building again.
Shopkeepers in Gachsaran:
Injured Iraq-Iran war Veterans:
Bus drivers in Tehran:
Shareholders of Cryptoland Exchange:
Monday, June 14
On Monday, Several fishermen in Kharg city of Kharg Island gathered in front of the border checkpoint. A group of workers of Tehran Jonoob company protested in Mahshahr in Khuzestan Province. Landowners in the new city of Pardis, rice farmers in Khuzestan Province, and fired workers of Khuzestan Pipe Industrial Company also held rallies.
Fishermen in Kharg island:
Workers of Tehran Jonoob company in Mahshahr:
Landowners in the new city of Pardis:
Tuesday, June 15
A group of delivery motorcyclists in Laleh Park in Tehran, and a group of families of Bafgh phosphate mine workers in the conference hall of Ahanshahr town held protest rallies.
Delivery motorcyclist in Laleh Park in Tehran:
Wednesday, June 16
The staff of Telecommunication Company of Khuzestan in the cities of Shushtar, Masjed Soleiman, and Ahvaz gathered in front of their cities’ Telecommunication Offices. Shareholders of the “Mashhad Mall” project rallied in front of the building of Ayandeh Bank in Mashhad. Workers of Tehran Jonoob Company held protest rallies for the third day in a row in Mahshahr.
Protest of staff of Telecommunication Company in Khuzestan:
Shareholders of Cryptoland Exchange:
Workers’ protest in Haft Tappeh Sugarcane Agro-Industry:
On June 14th, a greengrocer was arrested at his workplace in Ahvaz in Khuzestan Province after his comments on the recent actions of Ebrahim Raisi’s presidential campaign.
According to HRANA, the news agency of Human Rights Activists, the grocer was arrested by security forces and transferred to an unknown location.
Recently, a video of the greengrocer was published on social media, in which he says that the election campaign of Ebrahim Raisi extorted money from greengrocers of a daily market under the pretext of helping the campaign.
As of this writing, the charges against him and his whereabouts are unknown.
