Reporting by PMOI/MEK
Iran, October 7, 2019—Employees of the Azarab factory in the city of Arak, western Iran, held a gathering again on Monday, October 7, protesting not receiving their delayed paychecks and the status of stockholders remaining in limbo. In response, Iranian regime officials dispatched anti-riot units who resorted to attacking and firing tear gas into the workers’ peaceful protests.
The vicious units of the mullahs’ regime, desperate to prevent the protest from expanding across the city, stormed into the Azarab factory parking lot and prevented the personnel from entering their facilities.
To prevent any further demonstrations, state security forces took measures to surround the area where the 1,000 Azarab workers were protesting.
Numerous scenes of Azarab factory employees’ protest gathering being met with attacks by anti-riot units and firing tear gas – Arak, western Iran – October 7, 2019
Maryam Rajavi, the President-elect of the National Council of Resistance of Iran (NCRI), sent a message of support to the Azarab factory workers and called on others to rise in solidarity.
“Hail to the brave workers of Azarab, Arak, who did not succumb to the clerical regime’s threats and intimidations, continuing their protest today. The regime again responded by tear gas, arrests, and beatings. Such oppression will be foiled by the courageous workers’ willpower,” Mrs. Rajavi said.
Hail to the brave workers of Azarab, Arak, who did not succumb to the clerical regime’s threats &intimidations, continuing their protest today. The regime again responded by tear gas, arrests, &beatings. Such oppression will be foiled by the courageous workers’ will power. #Iran pic.twitter.com/yzKXAy9TP0
— Maryam Rajavi (@Maryam_Rajavi) October 7, 2019
In Isfahan, central Iran, hundreds of hardworking farmers held a gathering on Monday, protesting a plan by regime officials to use water from the local Zayanderud River for their personal profits, leaving the farmers with lesser water for their fields.
Gathering at the city’s Teeran Square, these farmers also protested the hollow promises constantly provided by regime officials for the past 17 years.
These deprived Isfahan farmers formed a very long convoy with their vehicles and headed towards the Zayanderud Dam. It has been three days since these farmers have camped at a site to prevent the regime’s plot from advancing.
In the city of Shush in southwest Iran, employees of the Haft Tapeh Sugar Cane Company held a gathering at the company courthouse in support of their colleagues who have been unjustly expelled from work recently. Continuing their strike today, these protesting workers are also demanding the release of their jailed coworkers.
Protest gathering of Haft Tapeh Sugar Cane workers in Shush, southwest Iran – October 7, 2019
In September, the workers of the Haft Tapeh held a nine-day strike in protest to the expulsion of their colleagues and demanding their return to work. This rally, held in the city of Shush in Khuzestan Province, southwest Iran, was organized despite various threats made by Iranian regime officials and the summoning of a number of workers by the local prosecutor’s office.
To intimidate the protesters, the regime’s Ministry of Intelligence and Security (MOIS) summoned around 40 workers, demanding they show up at the Shush police station. But the Haft Tapeh workers persisted in their just and legal demands and did not allow regime authorities to silence them with threats and expulsions.
Brave workers of the Haft Tapeh sugar mill in southwest #Iran continuing their just strike.#IranProtestshttps://t.co/cmkUUByUtk
— People's Mojahedin Organization of Iran (PMOI/MEK) (@Mojahedineng) September 27, 2019
Even regime officials are beginning to acknowledge the rights of Haft Tapeh and others to protest and seek their just demands.
Mahmoud Sadeghi, a member of the Iranian regime’s Majlis (parliament), recently admitted to the fact that labor protests are escalating in numerous cities across the country. “We are currently witnessing daily protests by workers of Haft Tapeh Sugar Cane Company and the HEPCO industrial complex in Arak,” he said on September 25.
“Currently, the problems resulting from wrong policies have placed the country facing problems and the workers of Haft Tapeh Sugar Cane Company and Arak are paying the price. To have their voices heard, these workers are resorting to various measures such as blocking rail tracks,” he added.
Sadeghi also acknowledged the fact factories in Iran under the mullahs’ rule are controlled by incompetent regime clerics. “Some company transfers are quite interesting. I don’t understand how members of the cleric's society, who should be focused on teaching their students, can manage an industrial complex? This is what we have been witnessing recently in Arak and Dena Tire Company,” Sadeghi explained.
