Reported by PMOI/MEK
Iran, Nov. 20, 2018 – [Updated at 16:30 CET] On Tuesday, the workers of the Haft Tapeh sugar cane factory held the 16th day of their demonstrations in protest to unpaid wages and the recent arrests of their coworkers.
The factory is located near Shush, Khuzestan province, in southwest Iran. The factory employs several thousand workers, many of whom haven’t received their salaries for months. On Sunday, the Iranian regime responded to protesters by arresting several of the workers.
But the repressive measures of the regime have not intimidated the protesters, and the workers of Haft Tapeh have returned to protest for their rights on the following days. Moreover, the locals of Shush have shown support the workers of Haft Tapeh. In the past days, many shop owners closed down their shops and joined the demonstrations of the workers. Teachers, students and other citizens of the city also expressed their solidarity with the just cause of the unprivileged workers.
Elsewhere in Iran, the Greater Tehran Bus Drivers Syndicate condemned the arrest of the workers of Haft Tapeh sugar factory and declared their support of the cause and demands of the protesting workers. “We declare our solidarity with the strike of the [Haft Tapeh] workers. We ask all members of the labor community across Iran to show their support for workers of the Haft Tapeh sugar factory. The detained workers and the representatives of the protesters must be immediately released and their demands met.”
On Monday, as a result of the extreme pressure the regime is facing from the protests of the workers and the growing support they’re earning, the Iranian regime released all but four of the detained protesters. However, on Tuesday, as the workers of Haft Tapeh returned to Shush city proper to resume their protests, they declared that they would continue their demonstrations until all detained prisoners are released.
The protests of Haft Tapeh workers are taking place in tandem with similar protests by the workers of the Ahvaz Steel factory, also located in Khuzestan, who are also protesting to unpaid wages. On Tuesday, as they had gathered in front of the mayor’s office in Shush, the workers of Haft Tapeh were chanting slogans in solidarity with the workers of Ahvaz steel. “Dear workers of Ahvaz steel, we will stand together,” the protesters were chanting.
Mrs. Maryam Rajavi, the president-elect of the National Council of Resistance of Iran, condemned the arrest of Haft Tapeh workers and called on all international bodies to work toward their release.
I call on the people of Iran, particularly the people of #Ahvaz and Khuzestan to rise in solidarity with the sugarcane and steel workers. #IranProtests #Iran#FreeIran2018
— Maryam Rajavi (@Maryam_Rajavi) November 19, 2018
She also hailed the workers of Ahvaz and Shush for their persistence in demanding their rights despite the tough circumstances the regime has imposed. Mrs. Rajavi called on all Iranians to support the workers in achieving their goals.
I call on the people of Iran, particularly the people of #Ahvaz and Khuzestan to rise in solidarity with the sugarcane and steel workers. #IranProtests #Iran#FreeIran2018
— Maryam Rajavi (@Maryam_Rajavi) November 19, 2018
As protests in different locations link and continue to rage across the country, the Iranian regime finds itself in an increasingly precarious situation.
2:00pm local time: Workers of Ford automobile factory in Germany declared their solidarity with the workers of Haft Tapeh sugar mill. The workers held a banner which read, “We are all from Haft Tapeh.”
Ford automobile factory workers declared solidarity with Haft Tapeh sugar mill employess
A group of students in Tehran gathered and chanted slogans in support and solidarity with the workers of Haft Tapeh. “We are the children of workers. We will stand by their side,” the students were chanting.
The students also sent messages of support to workers and teachers who have been arrested by security forces in recent weeks. “From haft Tapeh to Tehran, the hard-working people are in prison,” the chanted.
