HRANA Recap: This Week’s Protests in Iran

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

Saturday, June 11

The pensioners of the Social Security Organization held protests in the cities of Ahvaz, Hamedan, Karaj, Ilam and Shush. They protested against the government’s decision to increase the pensions by only 10% rather than the 38%  as enacted by the Supreme Labor Council.

 

The workers of the Tehran Darougar Company and the chemical and consumer goods Company Tolypers based in Qazvin, which are both subsidiary companies of Darougar Holding Company, held protests separately at their workplaces. Reportedly, due to the companies’ shut down, these workers have been suspended from work and not been paid.

A group of educators of Tonekabon County in Mazandaran Province gathered in front of the Courthouse in Sari to ask for the prosecution of illegal land grabbers. About 150 educators have lost their money through fraudulent acts of Madani Farhang Company and several land grabbers.

A number of farmers in Shadegan city, Khuzestan Province, gathered before the governorate building to protest against cutting off or reducing the fuel portion for their tractors.

A number of applicants for the housing project “Melli Maskan” gathered before the governorate building in Ahvaz to ask for their demands.

A number of personnel and trainers of the Technical and Vocational Training Organization in Alborz province gathered before the office to protest against low wages and their poor living conditions.

Sunday, June 12

In support of Political prisoner Vahid Bagheri, his family and relatives gathered before the Parliament in Tehran. On May 10, 2022, Vahid Bagheri staged a hunger strike in protest against the prison official’s rejection of his request for release on probation despite the head of the judiciary’s approval.

In Naqadeh, Bandar Abbas, Zanjan, Shush, Sanandaj, Tabriz, Shushtar, Rasht, Hamedan, Karaj, Ardabil, Arak, Kermanshah, Isfahan, Sari, Borujerd and Ahvaz, the social security pensioners held protests to demand 38% increase in wages as the Supreme Labor Council has enacted.

 

Dozens of retired Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) drivers gathered in front of a bus terminal in Tehran to demand severance payment and a four per cent premium as allocated for hazardous jobs.

In Tehran, a number of shopkeepers and merchants walked off the job, shut down their shops and rallied against increasing taxes. Reportedly, the demonstration turned violent by the police. A similar protest by shopkeepers took place in Arak before Iranian National Tax Administration.

 

A group of residents of Tehran gathered before the Electricity Distribution Company to ask for their demands.

For the second consecutive day,  the workers of the Tehran Darougar company protested at the company’s premises. They asked for job security and returning to work.

Monday, June 13

A number of artists and other residents of Malekan City, East Azerbaijan Province, gathered before the governorate building to protest against the appointment of the new head of the county Ministry of Culture and Islamic Guidance. They said that the appointment is not based on his merit but on his support from a parliament member during the election.

The protest of pensioners continued in Bandar Abbas, Ahvaz and Dorud. They asked for increasing wages, implementing a plan to close wage disparities, addressing supplementary insurance issues and end-year bonuses.

A number of preschool teachers gathered before the Ministry of Education in Ahvaz to ask for official job contracts and other demands.

A group of students of the Tarbiat Modares University gathered before the central building of this University to protest against the lack of proper amenities and facilities.

A group of the residents of two villages in Mazandaran Province protested against land grabbing by the General Directorate of Endowments and Charity Affairs.

A number of shopkeepers of the Kazerun City in Fars Province staged a strike and shut down the market in protest against the poor economic conditions.

 

Tuesday, June 14

Social Security pensioners continued their protests in the cities of Ahvaz, Shush, Kermanshah and Zanjan.

A Number of interns of Tehran University of Medical Sciences gathered at their workplace to protest against delays in payment and ask for levelling up wages.

One of the interns said, “You will not believe it if I tell you that at the age of 25, with such a high volume of work, they have just increased my wages from 1,3 million to 1,8 million tomans. Yet, the increase has not yet been paid. It is about 14 months that we have not received our delayed wages.”

A group of citizens with special diseases gathered in front of the Ministry of Health and Medical Education to protest against the shortage and high costs of medicine.

A number of shopkeepers went on strike and rallied in the cities of Shiraz, Arak, Borujerd and Minab. They protested against increasing taxes in hard economic conditions.

Wednesday, June 15

The pensioners of the Social Security Organization held protests in the cities of Shush, Shushtar, Dorud, Ahvaz and Kermanshah. Also, ILNA has reported similar protests in Gilan and Zanjan provinces.

In the cities of Ilam, Fasa and Arak, shopkeepers and merchants went on strike against worsening economic conditions and increasing taxes.

A group of retired bank employees gathered before the Bank Pension Fund in Tehran to protest against unpaid benefits and other issues.

A group of the personnel of Iranian international shipping companies gathered in front of the Road Maintenance & Transportation Organization in Tehran. They protested against layoffs following the privatization of these companies.

A group of truck owners held a protest in front of the Fuel Transportation Management department.

Thursday, June 16

In response to the call of The Coordination Council of Iranian Teachers’ Trade Associations, active and retired teachers and educators held protests in front of the Ministry of Education in several dozens of cities across the country.

In Tehran, a high number of police and security forces prevented the protestors to gather before the parliament. Also, in Saqqez and Sanandaj, a heavy presence of plainclothes security agents was evident.

The protesting teachers demanded the immediate release of detained teachers, the implementation of the “Job Ranking Plan” as passed in Iran’s parliament, the closing disparity in pensions, free education for students, a maximum class size of 16, and the release of jailed teachers.

 

A number of Tolypers Manufacture company of Qazvin gathered and rallied in the street led to the governorate building in Qazvin.  These workers protested against unpaid wages during the factory closure.

The pensioners of the Social Security Organization continued their protests in Rasht, Ahvaz and Dorud.

The workers of the Parsa Company who are working on a petrochemical construction project went on strike to ask for unpaid wages.