The Latest on the Teachers and Educators’ Protests

After several consecutive days of protests, thousands of retired and working teachers and educators, joined by supporters, demonstrated in more than 100 cities across the country. These protests were held on December 13 by the call of the Coordination Council of Iranian Teachers’ Trade Associations.

According to HRANA, the news agency of Human Rights Activists, demands included the implementation of an already-enacted plan whereupon the incomes of teachers will be increased depending on rank, to up to 80% of the salaries of faculty members. 

They also asked for unpaid severance payments for retirees who went into pension last year. The implementation of this plan will reduce disparities in income and pay gaps. 

Chants included “teacher wake up, stand up against discrimination”, “Free Imprisoned teachers”, “If our problem is not solved, the school will be closed”.

In these demonstrations, some protesters had some handheld placards with slogans in support of the recent protests in Isfahan against water supply mismanagement.

In Alborz Provinces and in Tehran (in front of Parliament), these protests turned violent due to the interference of security forces.

In Saqqez City, teachers chanted in support of Amanj Amini, the teacher who had been previously arrested, beaten and mistreated by security forces during the protest.

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.

Saturday, November 27 

A number of seasonal workers at the Haft-Tappeh Sugarcane Agro-Industry Company assembled today in Shush City, first before the Ministry of Cooperatives, Labour, and Social Welfare and then in front of the Governorate building. Their demands regarded issues with their contracts. Last Thursday, this group of workers assembled in front of the office of Parliament member Kaab Amir.

A group of personnel at Distribution Electrical Company in Golestan Province assembled in front of their company’s building, asking for permanent, official employment rather than their current temporary agreement.

Workers at petrochemical company Fajr assembled before the company entrance to protest against an increase in working hours. Reportedly, shift hours were increased from 8 to 12 without workers’ consent. According to labour code, shifts longer than 12 hours are forbidden. 

Nurses and other personnel at the Ministry of Health assembled in front of the Planning and Budget Organization building to ask for the implementation of an “extra payment plan”, a reduction in taxes, and a pay raise. Despite being enacted in 2014 by Parliament, the “extra payment plan”, has not yet been put into action after seven years.

Injured veterans of the Iran-Iraq War assembled in front of the Foundation of Martyrs and Veterans Affairs in Tehran to protest against poor living conditions.

The victims of Fardadkar Amitis Company, who lost their money due to fraudulent acts by the investment company, protested before the Qoddoosi Courthouse in Tehran. About ten thousand victims have lost a combined 2500 billion tomansb (594,887,500 USD). The protesters asked to move the case from the Qoddoosi Courthouse to the Economic Crimes Court and the Branch of Economic Corruption of the Revolutionary Court.

A group of farmers in Bavy County protested for their water allocation for fall cultivation. They assembled before the Karun Irrigation Company, Eastern Lands in Ahvaz City. Despite promises, two months have passed without farmers receiving water allocation. 

A group of physicians and medical graduates working in the government sector assembled before the Medical Sciences Building in Yazd City. They protested against unfair salary calculation methods and heavy taxes.

Sunday, November 28

Families of the victims of Ukrainian International Airlines Flight 752 marched on the Military Courthouse where the trial of low-ranking military officers is being held. The assembly was on surveilled by many security agents. In the early hours of January 8, 2020, Flight 752 was hit by a missile sent by regime military forces. After a few days of covering up the cause of this incident, the regime admitted that the plane was hit by a missile shot from an anti-missile defense base.

 

Several families with children with SMA (Spinal Muscular Atrophy) assembled in front of the Parliament building in Tehran to ask that their children’s medicine, necessary to treat SMA, be imported.

A group of retirees of Haft-Tappeh Sugarcane Agro-Industry Company assembled at the entrance of the factory. They claimed that the years of service payment is lower than dictated by labour law.

Retirees using the Fulad Company pension fund assembled in front of pension fund offices in the cities of Ahvaz and Isfahan. They asked for a raise in pensions in order to stay above the poverty line, as well as the elimination of pension disparities and issues with supplementary insurance.

A number of truck drivers in Sarbaz County, Sistan and Baluchestan Province, assembled in front of the governorate building to protest against a cut on fuel rations. They said that fuel rations for their trucks have been cut without compelling reason.

Monday, November 29

A number of retirees of airline company Homa assembled in front of Homa’s pension fund offices. They protested against delays in payments and the merger of Homa’s pension fund with the national pension fund.

In Bandar Mahshahr, a number of jobseekers assembled before the refinery tanks of the Persian Gulf Bidboland Gas Refining Company. They protested the company recruitment policy, which discriminates against native workers.

Tuesday, November 30

A number of the victims of financial frauds from financial institution Caspian assembled in front of the judiciary building in Tehran to demand the return of their investment, including profits and loss.

 

A number of residents in a nomadic area known as “Sargachineh” in Kohgiluyeh and Boyer-Ahmad Province protested in front of the provincial governorate building. Residents said that 57 hectares of land have been unlawfully assigned to one person who is not even a native of this area.

For the third consecutive day, families of children with SMA assembled in front of the parliament in Tehran to ask for the import of required medicine for their children.

A number of seasonal workers of Haft Tappeh Sugarcane Agro-Industry Company assembled at company premises. They had been protesting for several consecutive days to demand that their contract issues be addressed.

Technical workers from various districts assembled at their workplace, Distribution Electrical Company of Tehran, to ask for permanent employment contracts. One of the workers said that many of workers have not been offered a permanent contract after 20 years.

Municipal workers in Khorramshahr City assembled in front of the governorate building to protest against a four-month delay in payments.

Dozens of workers of three copper mining companies in Varzeqan City assembled on company premises. Reportedly, these workers protested against the return of four fired managers.

 

Workers at two companies that are contracting for Petrochemical Company Apadana in Asaluyeh City went on strike to protest against the employers, who failed to keep promises regarding workers’ demands.

The teachers and educators from the Kohgiluyeh and Boyer-Ahmad, Fars, Qom and Khuzestan provinces went on strike and assembled before the buildings of the ministry of education in each province. These teachers demanded the implementation of a plan, which has already been enacted in the parliament and whereby teachers’ income will be raised in accordance with a ranking

Wednesday, December 1

About 120 retired workers of Haft-Tappeh Sugarcane Agro-Industry Company assembled before the company entrance to protested a miscalculation in benefits.

For the fourth consecutive day, dozens of families with children with SMA assembled in front of parliament in Tehran to ask for the import of required medicine for their children. During this assembly, President Raisi appeared and promised to address this issue in a meeting with that included three representatives from the families.

 

Municipal service workers and gardeners in Kish protested before the building of the Kish Free Zone Organization to protest against low wages and benefits.

 

For the second consecutive day, educators in Qom City assembled before the  provincial Ministry of Education to ask for the implementation of a plan that, though passed by the parliament, have not yet been enacted.

Several retired and working school teachers in Shiraz City went on strike to demand implementation of the afore-mentioned plan.

For the second consecutive day, a number of workers of three copper mining companies in Varzeqan City assembled on company premises.

Thursday, December 2

In response to a call by the Coordination Council of Iranian Teachers’ Trade Associations, retired and working educators in 73 cities across the country assembled in front of the building of the Ministry of Education (or, in Tehran, Parliament) in each city. They demanded the implementation of a plan already enacted by Parliament whereby teachers’ income will be raised in accordance with a ranking.

In Qom City, a number of farmers assembled before a production cooperative company to ask for their water portion. They also protested against heavy fines for unauthorized withdrawals from wells.

For the third consecutive day, dozens of workers at three copper mining companies in Varzeqan City went on a strike and assembled at their company premises.

 

HRANA Recap: This Week’s Protests in Iran

Friday, May 21 and Saturday, May 22

According to HRANA, the news agency of Human Rights Activists, at least seven protest rallies were held on May 21, and 22. Several employees of the offshore platforms of the South Pars Oil and Gas Company rallied at their workplace. A group of nurses and medical staff members of the Health Cooperative rallied in front of the Judiciary in Tehran. Several workers of Pajen Dairy Company rallied in front of Nasimshahr Governor’s Office. Workers of Izeh’s Water and Sewerage Company rallied in front of the city water supply building demanded their unpaid wages. Street cleaners in Chabahar rallied in front of the city building; a group of workers of IGC in Assaluyeh rallied in their workplace, and truck drivers parked their vehicles in one of Mashhad’s highways protesting the neglect of their problems by the authorities. All the groups of protestors called for their demands to be addressed.

 

Workers of IGC in Assaluyeh:

 

Medical staff members of the Health Cooperative’ rally:

 

Cleaners and sweepers in Chabahar:

 

Workers of Izeh’s Water and Sewerage:

 

Sunday, May 23

 

According to HRANA, the news agency of Human Rights Activists, at least 10 protest rallies were held on May 23. A group of employees of Tehran Metro Operation Company rallied in front of the Islamic parliament in Tehran; Retirees of Isfahan Steel Industry rallied in front of the Retirement Fund building in Isfahan; School janitors rallied in front of their provincial education department in Lorestan and Qazvin provinces; a group of Shiraz Telecommunication Company retirees rallied in front of the governor’s office in the city, a group of preschool teachers from different cities rallied in front of the Islamic Consultative Assembly; teachers working in non-profit schools in Sistan and Baluchestan, Kerman, and East Azerbaijan provinces protest rallies called for their demands to be addressed.

 

Employees of Tehran Metro:

 

Retirees of Isfahan Steel Industry:

 

 

Teachers working in non-profit schools in Sistan and Baluchestan, Kerman, and East Azerbaijan:

 

Janitors rallied in in Lorestan and Qazvin provinces:

 

Telecommunication Company retirees in Shiraz:

 

 

Preschool teachers rally:

 

Monday, May 24

 

According to HRANA, the News Agency of Human Rights Activists, at least seven protests took place on Monday, May 24.  Employees of the Ministry of Oil rallied in front of this ministry building in Tehran; a group of truck drivers held a rally and parked their vehicles in front of the municipality building in Mashhad; Security and maintenance workers of line 5 of Tehran city train held a rally on-site; several retired employees of Iran Air airline rallied in front of the airline building in Tehran; a group of faculty members of the Azad University of Tabriz and Ahvaz held rallies in their cities; retirees of health department held a rally in front of the building of the Program and Budget Organization in Tehran.Protesters called on their demands to be addressed.

 

Truck drivers held a rally in Mashhad:

 

Employees of Iran Air airline rallied in front of the airline building in Tehran:

Retirees of health department held a rally in front of the building:

 

 

Tuesday, May 2

 

According to HRANA, the news agency of Human Rights Activists, at least thirteen protest rallies were held on Tuesday, May 25.   Stakeholders of Azovico company who lost money held a rally in the streets around the Ministry of Industry, Mine and Trade in Tehran. Several workers from the Ministry of Oil in the Persian Gulf Holding rallied in Petrochemical Special Economic Zone in Bandar Imam Khomeini. Workers at Pegah Milk Factory of Tehran held a rally in front of the Judiciary building. A group of teachers and several temporary employees of the Ministry of Oil rallied in front of the Islamic Consultative Assembly building. A group of employees and retirees of Imam Khomeini Hospital held a rally in front of the Municipal Organization of Alborz Province. Residents of Barangerd village, farmers of the rural part of Gamboueh, and a group of employees of Khuzestan Rural Water and Sewerage Company held rallies in Khuzestan Province. Several students of Estahban Higher Education Center protested in this educational center. A few retirees of Pars Metal factory rallied in front of Ghanoon daily newspaper office in Tehran. Shareholders of the stock market rallied in front of the Stock Exchange Organization in Tehran, and a group of farmers in Isfahan held protest rallies in this city and called on their demands to be addressed.

 

Stakeholders of Azovico company:

 

Workers from the Ministry of Oil in the Persian Gulf Holding:

 

Residents of Barangerd village:

 

Residents of Gamboueh village:

 

 

Students of Estahban Higher Education:

 

 

Retirees of Pars Metal:

 

Employees of Rural Water and Sewerage in Khuzestan:

Wednesday, May 26

According to HRANA, the news agency of Human Rights Activists, on Wednesday, May 26, official employees of the oil industry held rallies in 9 different cities and locations including Bahregan, Lavan, Ahvaz, Gachsaran, Abadan, Assaluyeh, Tehran, Mahshahr, and Bushehr. The employees called their demands on payment of arrears, equipment upgrade, correct and complete implementation of Article 10 and 112, resolving problems of employees’ transfer to needed sections and some other demands. Several employees of Rural Water Supply and Sewerage gathered in front of the government buildings in the Khuzestan Province. A group of technical protection and safety consultants gathered in front of the Ministry of Cooperatives, Labor, and Social Welfare in Tehran rallied to pressure authorities to address their demands.

 

Protest of employees of the oil industry in 9 cities:

 

In Tehran:

In Lavan:

In Bahregan :

in Mahshahr :

 

in Ahvaz:

 

in Bushehr:

 

 

Employees of Rural Water Supply and Sewerage in the Khuzestan Province:

Thursday, May 27

According to HRANA, at least three protest rallies were held on May 26. Khuzestan Rural Water Supply and Sewerage staff for the third day in a row in front of the governor’s office in Ahvaz. Medical staff at Bu Ali Hospital rallied at their workplace in Tehran, and a group of citizens of Behbahan held a rally at the Friday prayers center in the city, in Khuzestan, and called on their demands be addressed.

Seven Civil Rights Activists Were Imprisoned

On December 26, 2019, seven civil rights activists, Mahrokh Rousta, Kaveh Mozaffari, Faraz Roshan, Jelveh Javaheri, Forough Saminia, Ahmad Zahedi Langeroudi, and Houman Tahriri were arrested during the commemoration ceremony held 40 days after the killing of Navid Behboudi, one of the victims of last November’s protests. The arrestees had a brief phone conversation with their families. However, their accusations are not yet confirmed. On January 1st, 2020, Forough Saminia, Jelveh Javaheri, Mahrokh Rousta were transferred to Lakan Prison in Rasht upon completion of their interrogation from the Rasht’s Intelligence Department’s detention center. On the same day, Kaveh Mozaffari, Ahmad Zahedi Langeroudi, Houman Tahriri, and Faraz Roshan were transferred to Ziabar Prison in Gilan Province. They were transferred to the aforementioned prisons although the prosecutor’s office announced earlier that all the arrestees can be released on bail.

Forugh Saminia, Jelveh Javaheri, and Kaveh Mozaffari are women’s rights activists while Ahmad Zahedi Langeroudi is a journalist and a member of the Iranian Writer’s Association. They were arrested along with several others, namely Amir Eslami, Sara Zaher Kerdar, Fahimeh Kameli, and Azar Jafari who were also attending this commemoration ceremony but were later released.

Navid Behboudi was a 23-year old model originally from Gilan residing in Qods city. On November 17, 2019, he was fatally shot during last November’s protest in Qods city. On November 20, 2019, his body was received by his family and was buried in Mahvizan, a village in the rural district of Sowme’eh Sara County, Gilan Province. The nation-wide protests of November are one of the most significant events of 2019. During the November protests that lasted more than 10 days simultaneously in 719 parts of the country. At least 7133 people were arrested, and hundreds died on the streets.

Three Days of Iran Protests Over Fuel Price Raise

Protests have erupted across Iran after the government unexpectedly announced it is rationing petrol and increasing its price. The protests took place across the country following the decision of the Iranian president, Hassan Rouhani, at midnight of November 14, 2019, to cut petrol subsidies to raise funds for social assistance to the poor. Petrol price was increased to a minimum of 15,000 Rials per liter, 50% increase from the day before.

Nationwide protests in the last three days were in at least 48 cities such as: Ahvaz, Shooshtar, Dezful, Gachsaran, Abadan, Khorramshahr, Bandar Mahshahr, Rasht, Shiraz, Bandar Abbas, Gorgan, Khorramabad, Qom, Ilam, Karaj, Sanandaj, Dorud, Qazvin, Arak, Mahdi Shahr, Garmsar, Shahroud, Najafabad, Mariwan, Tehran, Tabriz, Ardabil, Urmia, Saveh, Pasargadae, Qods (Qal’eh Hasan Khan), Varamin, Sari, Yasuj, Qaemshahr, Shahrekord, Malek Shahr, Parand, Damavand, Pol Dokhtar, Neyshabur, Sarepol Zahab, Kahnooj, Yazd, Bandar Bushehr, Bahmai, Shahriar, etc. They are still ongoing in several cities.

Peaceful demonstrations turned violent in Sanandaj, Mahshahr, and Shiraz, with online videos purporting to show police officers firing teargas at protesters and mobs setting fires. Several people were injured or killed in the first three days of protests as a result of the police’s direct shots. On November 17, 2019, students of Tehran University and Tabriz University protested inside the university. Shops at Tehran Grand Bazaar went on strike on November 17, 2019.

The protests started on November 15, 2019, and are still ongoing. The arrest of more than 1000 people across the country was confirmed. More than 150 banks and supermarkets were set on fire and a police officer was killed. Two Hawzas -a seminary where Shi’a Muslim clerics are educated- were set on fire in Shiraz and Kazerun. According to unconfirmed reports, at least 36 people were killed in Sirjan, Shiraz, Behbahan, Marivan, Khoramshahr, Isfahan, and Shahriar.

According to Fars News, protests were held in 100 cities and at least 100 banks and 57 supermarkets were set on fire. Based on this report, the number of protesters were 87400 from which 82200 are men and 5200 women. At least 1000 people were arrested. Yazd prosecutor confirmed the arrest of 40 people in the city of Yazd. Bam Prosecutor also confirmed the arrest of 15 people in the city of Bam. The prosecutor of Robat Karim confirmed the arrest of 34 protesters for vandalism. According to Mohammad Reza Amoui, Kermanshah’s chief of Law Enforcement Force of the Islamic Republic of Iran, on November 16, Major Iraj Javaheri was killed fighting with protesters in Kermanshah. A journalist resided in Mariwan, Adnan Hasanpour, reported that security forces shot people directly and at least seven people were killed in Javanrud, one person was killed in Sanandaj, and several people were injured. According to unconfirmed reports, 15 of the killed people are identified as following:

Meisam Adgipour, Khaled Maniat, Ali Ghazlavy, Milad Hamidavi, Ali Boghlani, Hamzeh Savari, Mohammad Asafi Zargani, Ehsan Abdollahnejad, Mehdi Nikouei, Osman Naderi, Mehran Tak, Shahou Validi, Javad Nazari Fathabadi, Mehrdad Dashtizadeh, Mohammad Hossein Ghanavati.

Iran has almost completely shut off access to the internet across the country. On November 16, 2019, by the approval of the National Security Supreme Council, the government has completely blocked Internet access in Iran to stymie protests. Due to the internet shut down and the lack of access to freelance reporters and citizen journalists, confirming news about demonstrations and deaths is difficult. It also caused difficulty for Iranian citizens to have access to news agencies websites. On Monday, November 18, schools are closed in 17 cities across Iran:

Shiraz, Kazerun, Alborz, Fereydun, Fereydun Shahr, Farsan, Kuhrang, Laran, Taleqan, Astara, and Najafabad. In addition, universities are closed in Shiraz.

Iran’s supreme leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, has backed petrol price increases claiming opponents of the Islamic Republic and foreign enemies were guilty of sabotage and not ordinary people. According to Khabar Online, Mojtaba Zonnour, a parliament member representing Qom, is collecting parliament members signatures to impeach Ali Larijani, the head of parliament. He gathered 50 signatures so far. Mohammad Qasim Osmani, a parliament member representing Bukan, filed his resignation and added that he resigned to announce that he was not involved in this decision [raising petrol price]. Today, with respect to Ayatollah Khamenei’s views, the Ministry of Intelligence announced that the protesters will face harsh punishments. Reportedly, people received threatening text messages in Khuzestan and Karaj from the prosecutor’s offices of their province. People were warned about attending protests and not to disturb public order and facilitate the abuse of opposition groups.

Video reports of the first day protests:

Video reports of the second-day protests

Video reports of the third day of protests:

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A Daily Overview of Human Rights Violations in Iran for February 7, 2019

The following is an overview of human rights violations in Iran on February 7th, 2019 based on the information compiled and verified by Human Rights Activists News Agency (HRANA).

(1) More than four protests were organized across the country on February 7, 2019. Teachers and educators in Isfahan, the investors of Padideh Shandiz in Mashhad, the teachers of Esfarayen in the Ghazvin province, the workers of Karaj municipality, have held protests to request their demands.

(2) Two workers were injured in Gotvand city in Khuzestan province because of negligence in the oversight of safety conditions in their workplaces. Iran ranked 102 in the workplace safety among other countries.

(3) The CEO of Imam Khomeini Relief Foundation confirmed that 50 million Iranians reported to live below the poverty line.

(4) Human Rights Watch announced that Iran’s authorities are violating fair trial standards in the case of eight environmentalists; “Iranian authorities should open a transparent investigation into the torture allegations the accused have raised during the trial.”

(5) Ehsan Karami was banned from appearing on Iran national television. He is a singer, actor, and television host.

(6) The Special Forces attacked Sunni prisoners’ ward in Rajaee Shahr prison because a prisoner, Tohid Ghoreishi, refused to attend the court session. Tohid Ghoreishi, Hamzeh Darvish, Marivan Karkuki, and Namegh Deldel were severely beaten and injured

(7) A number of Ahwazi Arab citizens were arrested by intelligence agents in Hamidiyeh in Ahvaz. Nabi Saedi, Ahmad Saedi, and Shahab Sayahi were arrested on Wednesday, February 6th. No further information was available on their location or the reason for their arrests.

(8) AbuBakr Rostami, a political prisoner on death row in Zahedan prison, began hunger strike after being transferred to the quarantine ward for an unknown reason. He was a medical student at Zabol University of Medical Sciences and spent the past three years in prison on the charges of “acting against national security by collaborating with anti-regime groups” and “Moharebeh” (enmity against God).

(9) A converted Christian, Sina Moloudian, was released on bail on Monday, February 4th. Iranian security officials raided his home and confiscating his belongings in Isfahan on January 23, 2019.

(10) Maryam Mombeini, the wife of Kavous Seyed-Emami, is still barred from leaving the country. Seyed-Emami was the Iranian-Canadian environmentalist who died in prison after being accused of spying.

(11) The Iranian government arrested, imprisoned or executed at least 860 journalists over 30 years frpm 1979 to 2009, according to documents leaked to Reporters Without Boarders (RSF) and at least four journalists were executed.

(12) More than 500 workers have been laid off in Ghazvin province while two workers of Pars Tire Company in Saveh were laid off after the wage protest.

(13) The Supreme Leader, Ali Khamenei, pardoned or reduce the sentences of a large number of convicts on the 40th anniversary of Iran’s Islamic Revolution which is commemorated in Iran.

(14) Five homeless people died of apparent carbon monoxide poisoning in Fardis in Alborz province.

A Daily Overview of Human Rights Violations in Iran for December 27, 2018

The following is an overview of human rights violations in Iran on December 27th, 2018 based on the information compiled and verified by Human Rights Activists News Agency (HRANA).

(1) A stepfather in Qom was jailed over a child’s death. A child died after being transferred to a hospital to care for his severe injuries. His stepfather was accused of physically abusing the child.

(2) Ten workers of Iran National Steel Industrial Group were released on bail. At least 15 more are still in prison.

(3) A prisoner in Zahedan prison had been stripped naked, tied up to a metal fence, and beaten after an argument with the prison deputy. Alireza Mohammadi is accused of robbery and was sentenced to six years imprisonment. In addition, A prisoner, Omran Mirakzehi, was beaten in Saravan prison and had been transferred to quarantine.

(4) Salahedin Ranjbar, a cyber activist, who has been previously sentenced to one year in prison, was arrested and transferred to Supermax ward for violent inmates of Urmia prison to serve his sentence on December 23.

(5) In a lawsuit filed by Kavous Seyed Emami’s family, against the Islamic Republic of Iran Broadcasting regarding a program aired which falsely portrayed him. His family also requested to lift the travel ban on Seyed-Emami ‘s spouse.

(6) Three protests have been held across the country. Educators and retired teachers protested in Isfahan and Urmia. Police fired tear gas at protestors and several of them have been arrested. Moreover, farmers in Isfahan protested and requested fulfilment of their demands.

(7) A prisoner who was accused of murder was saved from death with forgiveness and consent of the next of kin, after spending five years in the Dezful prison.

(8) More than 78 workers of Kavosh Pressure Vessels Manufacturer were laid off. Although they still have unpaid wages, their names have been sent to get unemployment benefits.

(9) A worker has been injured in a water well in Karaj because of unsafe working conditions.

(10) Mine explosion wounds a Shepherd in Salehabad district in Mehran County, Ilam Province. Land mines are remnants from Iran-Iraq war.

(11) Family and friends of Shahram Farajzadeh Tarani have been prevented from marking the anniversary of his death. The video of his death drew worldwide attention after he was ran over by a police vehicle during the 2009 Iranian election protests.

Shohada Square Protestor Dariush Darabi Sentenced to Prison

Human Rights Activists News Agency (HRANA) – Arak resident Dariush Darabi, who was arrested in a protest rally in Shohada Square of Arak, central Iran, has been sentenced to one year in prison and 30 lashings, on charges of disturbing the public order and insulting the Supreme Leader. As evidence against him, the court cited text messages retrieved from his phone.

These charges were brought by Arak Criminal Court No. 2 Branch 103 and Arak Revolutionary Court Branch 2. Darabi’s defense lawyer Mohammad Najafi told HRANA that his client was taken to an Arak IRGC detention center after his arrest on August 2nd of this year, and temporarily released on bail thereafter.

The International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR) explicitly prohibits inhumane and degrading punishments like lashings.

Iranian Trucker Strikes Push into Second Straight Week

Human Rights Activist News Agency (HRANA) – As they make it past the two-week mark, Iranian trucker strikes look nowhere near relenting, and authorities are taking notice.

As of the date of this report, 244 individuals have been arrested in connection to trucker strikes across multiple cities, including but not limited to Shahr-e Kord, Bandar-e Imam Khomeini, Ahvaz, Susangerd, Najaf Abad, Isfahan, Shiraz, Bushehr, Aligudarz, Urmia, Yazd, Zarrin Shahr, Bandar Abbas, Tiran, Miyaneh, Behshahr and Ghuchan.

While broadcasts from state-sponsored news agencies declared on October 6th that the protests were losing steam, the truckers have yet to back down. The same day, the General and Revolutionary Prosecutor of Shahr-e Kord announced that six more protestors had been detained.

Prior to October 6th, 238 individuals connected with the strike had already been detained and booked on charges of corruption on earth, disturbing public order, and banditry. Prosecutor Mohammad Jafar Montazeri previously threatened the detainees with heavy sentences, reminding them that their charges are punishable by death. Strikers in multiple provinces are taking the risk: Qazvin, Alborz, Ardabil, Isfahan, Fars, Semnan, Kermanshah, Zanjan, Hamadan, Northern Khorasan, and cities of Nahavand, Bujnurd, Kangan, Pakdasht, Nishabur, Shirvan, Azarshahr, Gorgan, Bandar-e Gaz, Izeh, Razan, and Zaran provinces have seen arrests so far.

At a ceremony for the opening of a tunnel connecting Karaj to Chalus, Minister of Roads and Urban Development Abbas Akhoundi acknowledged truck drivers’ role in the construction of the tunnel, telling a reporter, “the demands of the truck drivers will definitely be addressed.”

The Ministry of Roads and Urban Development showed less compassion toward the strikers in an October 6th response to Tehran-based Friday prayer imam Kaze Sadeghi, who stated that the Ministry should answer to their responsibilities and address the issue rather than “saying irrelevant things.” The Ministry’s retort statement read, “truck drivers are hardly struggling.”

In an interview with Mehr news agency, Deputy Head of the Iran Road Maintenance and Transportation Organization (IRMTO) Dariush Amani spoke of his organization’s initiative to meet drivers’ demands for tires, including cheaper import prices on cotton-based tires. “Tires have been placed on the list of essential items which will henceforth be imported at the government-subsidized price of 4200 Tomans [$1 USD].”

Ali Khaneghai, a general manager of the Sistan and Baluchestan provincial transportation and terminals department, acknowledged that high tire prices were one of the industry’s most dire needs, and claimed that 1200 subsidized tires have been distributed to drivers. “The drivers can purchase tires at fair prices through the Ministry of Industry, Mine and Trade with the presentation of their welcome letter from the Driver’s Union.”

Ahmad Jamshidi, Transportation and Terminals Manager of Chahar Mahal and Bakhtiyari province, also commented on tire influx, stating that 2711 tires had thus far been distributed among regional truckers.

HRANA previously reported on authorities’ reactions to the truckers’ continued strikes, which have been active since September 23rd. On that date, the Iran National Truck Driver’s Trade Union called on truckers to cease their operations until authorities fulfilled a list of 15 conditions, including an increase in pensions, a decrease in part prices, a 70-percent increase in wages, a decrease in insurance premiums, and a crackdown on bribery in the industry.

Three Hundred Gachsaran Prisoners Break into Protest

Human Rights Activists News Agency (HRANA) – Around 300 prisoners in Gachsaran, in the southwestern province of Kohgiluyeh and Boyer Ahmad, have launched protests and gone on hunger strike in opposition to patterns of injustice plaguing the quality of life in their region.

In phone calls to loved ones, several prisoners expressed discontent with the Gachsaran prosecutor’s unseemly behavior towards their families, the living conditions with which their families were faced, and authorities’ discriminatory treatment of prisoners, including their refusal to grant furlough to those who are eligible.

A source with two family members in the prison told HRANA that protestors were expressing their frustration and despair in very different ways. “During the protests, one prisoner, Hamed Pirayesh, cut his own ear and was subsequently transferred to solitary confinement. Today, another prisoner attempted suicide. Mir Mohammad Miri, an imprisoned political activist from Deyl village in Gachsaran county, is on his third day of hunger strike to protest the rejection of his furlough request.”

Miri was arrested July 21, 2018, to serve his sentence of lashings and two years in prison on charges of “insulting the supreme leader” and “propaganda against the regime.” The Gachsaran Revolutionary Court issued his verdict, which Branch 3 of the Appeals Court later upheld the sentence.