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Telecom retirees in Iran resume protests as authorities continue to deprive them of their rights

By Mahmoud Hakamian
iran protests telecom retirees august 14 2023
iran protests telecom retirees august 14 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, Shahrekord, Bandar Abbas, Ardabil, Ahvaz, Rasht, Ilam, Shiraz, Kermanshah, Mashhad, Tabriz, and Isfahan.

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 Isfahan, the protesters were chanting, “If there is one less embezzlement case, our problems will be solved.” This is a reference to the corruption of government officials and entities, which steal billions of dollars from national wealth and funds for their own purposes at the expense of workers, teachers, retirees, and other segments of the society.

The protesters called for the regime to implement its own laws, including the 2010 act of the telecom company. “Incompetent minister, resign! Resign!” the protesters shouted. “Neither the Majlis, nor the government don’t care about the people!”

“Raise your voice and shout your rights!” protesters shouted in Mashhad, “We will not stop until we get our rights!” expressing their determination to resume their weekly protest to reclaim their rights.

Protesters in Kermanshah rallied in front of the telecom company and chanted similar slogans.

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 several fold while pensioners continue to receive the same stipends as before.

In Ahvaz, protesters were chanting, “The shareholders have stolen our share,” referring to regime officials and individuals with ties to the regime who control the telecom retirement fund and are using its resources to fund their own illicit activities.

While regime officials continue to profit from the retirement funds, the retirees’ lives are being driven into more poverty and misery. “The fridges of retirees are emptier than ever!” the protesters were chanting.

In Tehran, one of the protesters spoke against Majid Soltani, the CEO of the 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). He is a security figure and looks after the benefit of the regime and the IRGC instead of ensuring the rights of his employees and the retirees of the telecom company.

“We said, Mr. Soltani, stop this,” the protester said. “For the love of God, stop lying! Stop the lies! This table, this position, what is its value? How much is it worth for your family that you are willing to accept the curses and rage of 60,000 families?”

He also addressed Mahmood Ebrahimzadeh, the chairman of the board of the telecom company, who had promised to pay out the unpaid subsidies and implement the law to adjust pensions this month. “Are you going to keep your promise or just give up in a few months and say it’s not my problem?” the protester said.

Also on Monday, families of the victims of Flight PS752 gathered in Tehran, protesting the destruction of the graves of their loved ones.

“When someone’s hair shows, they quickly identify them… As soon as we held a ceremony for our loved ones in Behesht-e Zahra, the agents quickly showed up,” one of the protesters said. “Now that they have broken the grave, [authorities] say that we don’t have any cameras and can’t identify the person!”

Also in Tehran, a group of workers of Tehran metro held a rally, protesting livelihood challenges and the new retirement rules in the regime’s upcoming Seventh Development Plan, which will make their lives even more difficult.

In Shabestar and Urmia, people rallied to protest the drying up of Lake Urmia, caused by the regime’s destructive environmental and economic policies.

In Tabriz, a group of contract teachers held a protest rally. These teachers have passed the exams of the regime’s ministry of education and were supposed to be given employment. But in the past few years, they have been denied job opportunities and are struggling to make ends meet.

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