Reported by PMOI/MEK
Iran, Aug. 19, 2018 – Anti-riot police launched an attack at 11 am Sunday morning targeting a protest strike held by around 500 employees of the Haft-Tappeh Sugar Cane Company in Khuzestan Province, southwest Iran.
Using batons and tear gas, the anti-riot units viciously attacked and injured the workers and arrested a number of the protesters. As the workers protested these measures authorities were forced to release their detained colleagues.
These protesters were protesting their expulsion from work and held a picket line outside of the company site. A number of the expelled workers even poured gasoline on themselves and sought to commit suicide by setting themselves ablaze. A number of the company employees rushed to the scene and prevented them.
The anti-riot units even used pepper spray in their vicious attack against the protesting workers rallying outside the company director’s office. One of the injured workers again tried to commit suicide using gasoline.
Five of the protesters were arrested and transferred to a nearby courthouse.
- Karim Al Kathir
- Ali Al Kathir
- Hamzeh Al Kathir
- Yahiya Sa’di
- Fares Sa’di
A few hours later all five protesters were released as their colleagues protested the bogus charges raised against them.
Employees of the Haft Tappeh Sugar Cane Company have not received their paychecks since April and are enduring very tough living conditions.
Company officials have gone further and made changes to the employees’ social security insurance policies, resulting in more issues of protests for the employees. These officials have also not lived up to their promise of signing contracts with 1,500 part-time contracts.
