Reporting by PMOI/MEK
Iran, September 10, 2020—On Wednesday, September 9, employees of the Ahvaz Chamran State University, southwest Iran, gathered in front of the university's central building protesting the elimination of their job benefits and increasing working hours.
On Wednesday, September 9, workers of the Abadan Water and Sewerage Department held a rally in front of the office building demanding delayed paychecks and insurance premiums.
“This year around 60 workers have not been paid. We also have not received our insurance premiums for several months apart from delayed paychecks. This has resulted many difficulties for both workers and their families in receiving treatment in social security hospitals,” the protesting workers said.
“In these financial circumstances, having our wages delayed makes life very difficult,” one protesting worker said. A total of 250 people work in this department, of whom 200 are contract workers and the rest are official workers, each with different demands.
Sepidar prison in the city of Ahvaz, Khuzestan province, southwest Iran
Prisoners in the women’s ward of Sepidar Prison in Ahvaz, southwest Iran, are harassed and tortured in the excruciating summer heat by being deprived of even minimum necessities such as water and electricity.
This situation is especially problematic for elderly and sick women and it has caused respiratory problems.
“The single air conditioner in the prison is broken. On the other hand, the prison’s water and electricity is cut off several times a day. The high temperature of 40 degrees Celsius in this city and the closed space with a dense population make the prisoners sick and their illnesses deteriorate.
A while ago, a prosecutor went to this ward for an inspection. Prisoners protested the lack of water, air conditioning, and extreme heat in the ward. However, despite the prisoners’ protests, no action has been taken to improve their conditions.
The only telephone line are cuts off several times a week and the prisoners cannot talk too their loved ones.
One of the women in the prison was suspected of having contracted the coronavirus and was sent to a hospital outside prison. However, she was returned to the same ward without being quarantined,” said a source close to the prisoners.
It is worth noting that earlier in May at least 50 women had contracted Covid-19.
Despite these conditions, prisoners do not have the right to leave.” After applying for furlough, the relevant authorities refer the families to other entities,” according to the same source.
