Reported by PMOI/MEK
Iran, Jan. 4, 2019 – On Friday, the farmers of Varzaneh, east Isfahan, returned to the Darvazeh Dolat square to hold demonstrations in protest to the government’s policies that have resulted in their deprivation from water to irrigate their fields.
The farmers were chanting: “Death to [Hassan] Rouhani the liar” and “Rouhani you liar, what happened to our Zayandeh Rud.” Zayandeh Rud, the province’s main river, is the principal source of irrigation water for the farmers. But due to the policies and projects undertaken by the government, the farmers’ access to the waters of Zayandeh Rud has degraded considerably. Hassan Rouhani, the incumbent president of the Iranian regime, has recurrently promised to solve the water problems of the farmers of Isfahan. But nearly halfway into his second term, those promises have yet to materialize. That’s why the farmers are constantly calling him and other regime officials liars.
Protests by farmers in Varzaneh, Isfahan
The farmers, who have been fed up with the government’s lack of response to their demands, the were also chanting “If you don’t restore our rights to water, we’re ready for martyrdom.” The slogans also included, “The people are awake and are fed up with promises [of regime officials]” and “Officials, be ashamed of your treachery.”
The protests of the farmers of Isfahan have intermittently continued during the past months. But regime officials have not taken any concrete measures to solve their problems. The main reason behind the water shortage problems in Isfahan and other provinces are the corrupt and destructive policies of the Iranian regime, including the excessive building of dams and water channels that are meant to serve the purposes of the IRGC.
In the past months, there have been several cases where the farmers of Isfahan, whose livelihoods are being threatened by the water shortage, have clashed with security forces that have tried to disperse their protests. Having nothing to lose but their problems, the farmers are no longer afraid or intimidated by the threats and repressive measures of the regime.
Protests by farmers in Varzaneh, Isfahan
Protests by farmers in Varzaneh, Isfahan
On Wednesday, the farmers of Isfahan’s Khourasgan district gathered at the famous Pol-e Khaju bridge to protests for their rights to water. Security forces tried to disperse the crowd by firing bird shots, but the farmers stood their ground and continued to chant slogans against the regime.
