Reporting by PMOI/MEK
Iran, September 6, 2020—Hundreds of retirees and pension receivers rallied in Tehran, Iran, on Saturday protesting their poverty and skyrocketing prices. Similar protest gatherings were witnessed in cities across the country, including Mashhad, Karaj, Urmia, Tabriz, Arak, Bojnourd, Khorramabad, Kerman, Lahijan, Neyshabur and others.
These protesters held their gatherings outside the regime’s Social Security Organization branches while authorities had dispatched state security forces and even anti-riot units from the very beginning of these rallies to prevent other people from joining their ranks.
September 5, 2020 – Tehran, #Iran
Retirees rally outside the regime's Social Security Organization building seeking answers to their demands. Similar protest gatherings were held in the cities of Mashhad, Ahvaz, Rasht and Arak.#IranProtests pic.twitter.com/rN1FY5M3u0— People's Mojahedin Organization of Iran (PMOI/MEK) (@Mojahedineng) September 5, 2020
The protesters in Tehran continued their rallies and voicing demands despite various promises from authorities, such as holding negotiations with the retirees’ representatives. “We will continue protesting until our rights our addressed,” and “Inflation, skyrocketing prices, you must answer Rouhani,” referring to regime President Hassan Rouhani.
The retirees are also demanding their pensions to be increased in order to meet the current status of skyrocketing prices and inflation, and retiree centers to be managed by retirees themselves without any regime insider intervening. The protesting retirees are protesting the plundering methods of regime officials and insiders that are taking advantage of their positions to steal from their pensions and deprive them of their already very dismal payments.
Other chants voiced in these rallies included:
“When will the limbo status of retired Social Security Organization employees come to an end”
“The government must pay its debt in full to the Social Security Organization”
“Honoring retirement is when retirees’ pensions meet current employees’ paychecks”
“If the fund is bankrupt, it is the government’s fault”
“Our rights will only be addressed if we protest in the streets”
In various cities, reports indicate that the regime’s oppressive state security forces resorted to threats and intimidation to prevent any gatherings.
Retirees and pension receivers rallying in Mashhad, northeast Iran—September 5, 2020
In Rasht, northern Iran, authorities arrested one lady participating in the peaceful protest gathering.
In Karaj, west of Tehran, state security forces surrounded the protesting retirees and forced them to disperse.
In Yazd, south-central Iran, oppressive state security forces claimed the rally was held based on calls made by the Iranian opposition People's Mojahedin Organization of Iran (PMOI/MEK) and forced the crowd to disperse.
