HomeNEWSIRAN NEWSIranian retirees resume protests as the regime refrains from implementing its own...
NEWSIRAN NEWS

Iranian retirees resume protests as the regime refrains from implementing its own laws

By Mahmoud Hakamian
iran protests retirees august 8 2023
Protest rallies by government retirees in Iran—August 8, 2023

Government retirees returned to streets in several cities across Iran on Tuesday as the regime continues to ignore their most basic needs. Protests were reported in Hamedan, Yazd, Tabriz, Rasht, Kermanshah, Shiraz, Karaj, Sanandaj, and Ilam.Hamh

In Hamedan, retired teachers and education workers held placards that read, “What happened to justice!” and calling out regime officials for making hollow promises about raising their pensions.

In the past few years, retirees across Iran have been protesting their deteriorating living conditions, especially as the government refuses to adjust their pensions based on the inflation rate and fluctuations in the price of the rial, Iran’s national currency. The price of most basic goods have spiked severalfold while pensioners continue to receive the same stipends as before.

In Sanandaj, government retirees gathered in front of the offices of the government retirement fund. The protesters shouted, “Death to the liar!” referring to government officials that continue to promise addressing their needs only to backtrack on their promises later on.

According to the regime’s own laws, the government is required to adjust pensions of retired government employees to 90 percent of working staff. But the regime continues to dither on implementing its own rules while the lives of retirees continues to spiral into poverty.

In Karaj, the protesters were chanting, “Our enemy is right here, they’re lying that it is America!” referring to the regime constantly blaming the U.S. and other states for the country’s economic woes.

In Kermanshah, the retirees held placards that read, “Livelihood and housing are our undeniable rights!”

One of the retirees said, “We are hungry. Go and arrest the official who has trampled my rights! Go and arrest the official who has betrayed me!”

In Tabriz, the retirees held a placard that reiterated the articles of the regime’s laws. “Why don’t you believe in your own laws?” their placard read.

One of the recurring themes in the protests by the retirees is demanding the regime to implement the laws that its own parliament has passed.

Also on Tuesday, a group of disabled people in Tehran held rallied in front of the municipality and protested authorities ignoring their basic needs. The protesters called for the regime to cancel the privatization of the transportation fleet of the disabled people. In recent years, the regime has ostensibly transferred vital parts of the economy to private owners. In effect, these people are individuals who are closely linked to regime officials and take advantage of these deals to line their own pockets at the expense of the people.

It is worth noting that the transportation fleet already in very bad shape, with very few and worn-out cars.

According to the regime’s own laws, the government must provide the basic needs of disabled people and provide them with jobs that they can perform. But in effect, they are struggling to make ends meet while regime officials live luxurious lives.

In Malard, Tehran province, a group of residents gathered to protest their lands and fields being forcibly taken over by Kothar Housing Company, a subsidiary of Bonyad Shahid foundation, a financial entity that is overseen by regime supreme leader Ali Khamenei. Bonyad Shahid is one of several such foundations that are worth billions of dollars and control a large part of the country’s economy.

 

Previous article
The failure of Raisi’s two-year presidency
Next article
Iran’s regime is facing a defection crisis in its rank and file
Mahmoud Hakamian
RELATED ARTICLES

Selected

Latest News and Articles