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Iran: Telecom retirees call out regime officials for corruption

By Mahmoud Hakamian
iran protests retirees of the telecom industry july 31 2023
Protests by the retirees of Iran's telecom industry—July 31, 2023

Retirees and pensioners of the Iranian regime’s telecommunications industry held their weekly protest rallies in several cities across the country on Monday, as their living conditions continue to deteriorate and the ruling mullahs refuse to address their needs. Rallies were reported in Tehran, Ardabil, Isfahan, Shahrekord, Rasht, Shiraz, Mashhad, Kermanshah, and Ahvaz.

The protesters are demanding basic needs that they have raised for more than 13 years and the regime has constantly ignored. This includes a law that was passed in 2010 and requires the state-run telecom company to raise the pensions of retirees and provide them with their basic needs.

In Ahvaz, protesters were chanting, “We will not stop until we get our rights!” making it clear that they will not be intimidated by the regime ignoring their demands and suppressing their protests.

In the past few years, retirees across Iran have been protesting their deteriorating living conditions, especially as the government refuses to adjust their pensions based on the inflation rate and fluctuations in the price of the rial, Iran’s national currency. The price of most basic goods has spiked severalfold while pensioners continue to receive the same stipends as before.

In Mashhad, protesters were calling for the resignation of ministers and regime officials responsible for the miserable living conditions of retirees. They chanted, “The main shareholder has stolen the share of others!” the protesters were chanting, referring to state-linked shareholders of the telecom retirement fund.

In Isfahan, the protesters were chanting, “The Majlis (parliament) and the government don’t care about the people!” “If there is less one embezzlement case, our problems will be solved!” referring to the major role regime officials play in corruption cases and their disregard for the living conditions of the people.

For several years regime officials have been making promises to implement the law for adjusting pensions. But as they continue to dither and delay, the lives of pensioners, who rely solely on government stipends, continue to spiral into poverty.

In Tehran, retirees were chanting, “Our enemy is right here, they’re lying that it is the U.S.!” referring to the regime constantly blaming the country’s problems on other countries and international sanctions.

The protesters also chanted slogans against Majid Soltani, the CEO of the state telecom company. Soltani, who took charge of the company in 2020, was previously the head of technology and communications of the repressive State Security Forces (SSF).

Also on Monday, merchants of Tehran’s Khavaran Industrial Bazaar held a rally, protesting constant power outages that have caused severe damages to their business.

And the personnel Tehran’s Amin Abad hospital held a protest rally as regime authorities continue to refrain from paying their overdue wages and ignore their other demands.

In Bukan, authorities blocked the entrance to the city’s main cemetery to prevent locals from gathering at the grave of Mohammad Hassanzadeh, a youth killed by security forces during the nationwide protests that began in September 2022. The locals wanted to commemorate this martyr for freedom on his birthday.

The graves of the martyrs of the uprising have become regular rallying points for their families, friends and other citizens of their respective cities. The regime is terrified of these assemblies turning into protests, which is why it is taking extreme measures to prevent any kind of gathering at these locations.

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