Reported by PMOI/MEK
Iran, Dec. 1, 2018 – On Saturday, the workers of Haft Tapeh sugar mill, located in Shush, Khuzestan, returned to the streets to resume their protests for the 27th consecutive day. The workers began their demonstration at the entrance of the factory and marched toward the office of the mayor of Shush.
The workers of Haft Tapeh, who are also on strike, demand the payment of months-overdue wages and the removal of the private owners of the company who have pushed the country toward bankruptcy. Haft Tapeh is the largest sugarcane factory in Iran and employs thousands of workers. The current conditions of the factory threaten the livelihoods of these workers and their families.
The workers are also demanding the release of their arrested colleagues. In recent weeks, instead of responding to the demands of the workers, the Iranian regime’s security forces cracked down on the workers and arrested several of the protesters. On Thursday, security forces attacked the home of one of the members of the workers' syndicate and arrested him.
Day 27 of protests by the workers of Haft Tapeh sugar mill
But despite the threats of the Iranian regime, the workers of Haft Tapeh continue to take to the streets day after day. On Saturday, the workers of Haft Tapeh were shouting, “Imprisoned workers must be freed.”
Yesterday, in a statement, the syndicate of the workers of Haft Tapeh wrote, “Tomorrow’s demonstration will be held in front of the mayor’s office at 8 am.” The syndicate also warned about plots and schemes by the Iranian regime to involve the Basij and IRGC to steer the protests into other directions. This is a tactic that the regime has employed in past days. “We will protest until we evict the private owners of the factory,” the statement reads.
As they persist in their demands, the workers of Haft Tapeh continue to earn the respect and support of people in Iran and across the world. Yesterday, the General Confederation of Labor in France declared its support for the demands of the workers of Haft Tapeh and called for the release of the detained workers.
General Confederation of Labor in France declared its support for the workers of Haft Tapeh sugar mill
The families of the victims of political prisoners executed by the Iranian regime in the 1980s also expressed their support for the workers of the Haft Tapeh. The relatives of political prisoners held signs that called for an end to tyranny and demanded the release of Esmail Bakhshi, the representative of Haft Tapeh who has been detained by the regime’s security forces since two weeks ago.
Families of political prisoners show their support for the workers of Haft Tapeh
