Reporting by PMOI/MEK
Iran, May 2, 2021—On May 1, on the occasion of the international workers day, the Iranian Resistance Units, the internal network of the People’s Mojahedin Organization of Iran (PMOI/MEK) organized widespread anti-regime activities across the country.
In various cities, the Resistance Units spread anti-regime slogans that targeted mullahs’ institutionalized corruption. Workers in Iran are among the most deprived classes of the society and struggle to live with a minimum wage. Workers live under the poverty line and can’t even afford their most basic and vital needs.
On Saturday, May 1, Iranian workers in more than 20 cities across the country protested against mullahs’ corruption and chanted, “Down with the tyrant, hail to the workers,” and “We will not rest until we have achieved our rights.”
Simultaneously, the MEK Resistance Units organized anti-regime activities in cities such as Tehran, Shiraz, Isfahan, Tabriz, Fariman, Esfarayen, Hashtroud, Khorramabad, Doroud (Lorestan), Shahriar, Mashhad, Lahijan, Rudsar, Hamadan, Arak, Konarak, Ahvaz, Torbat Jam, and Kashan.
The Resistance Units took to graffiti with the slogans:
“Happy Workers’ Day; justice and freedom is our right.”
“Workers are under the most brutal oppression.”
“Hail to the resisting worker political prisoners.”
“Achieving minimum rights for workers in Iran is impossible without regime change.”
“(Ali) Khamenei must be overthrown.”
"Workers vote for regime change.”
“Workers vote to boycott of the sham elections.”
“Rise up and overthrow the tyranny.”
The Resistance Units also installed posters of the Iranian Resistance leader Massoud Rajavi and the President-elect of the National Council of Resistance of Iran (NCRI) Maryam Rajavi in different areas. This is while they are constantly at risk of being arrested because the regime punishes support for the MEK with heavy sentences.
In a video message from Doroud in Lorestan province, one of the Resistance Units expressed his anger and hatred towards the regime's leaders’ corruption and lootings and said, “I’m a worker. Happy International Workers’ Day. Workers in our country are deprived of their rights and live under the poverty line. Their destiny is not bright and are always ashamed in front of their families. This is while the mullahs’ children have looted country’s wealth and live free in the western countries. Therefore, I say down with the tyranny and hail to the workers.”
Ninety percent of Iranian workers are deprived of their basic rights, and their salary is less than one fifth of workers in neighboring countries.
In the current circumstances, while the poverty line is 120 million rials (approx. $500), the official minimum wage for workers is 26 million rials (approx. $110). The workers are not even able to provide vital and basic products such as bread and eggs for their families.
Iranian workers need job security, purchasing power, recognition of trade unions, timely paid wages, right to insurance and pensions, health insurance, and free Covid-19 vaccines.
In such circumstances, the activities of the Resistance Units supports the struggle of Iranian workers and other classes of the society that demand regime change with the hope for a better future.
The Resistance Units also continued their month-long campaign calling for the boycott of the regime’s upcoming elections in June. These activities reflect the Iranian population’s frustration with four decades of tyranny and lack of democracy in Iran. These efforts have received widespread support from the public and tie in with slogans that farmers, pensioners, creditors, and many other communities in Iran have been chanting in the protests in the past few weeks.
