Strikes and protests in the south of Iran: This is a popular uprising!

E. AVA
İstanbul

Small-scale protests that started on July 15 due to lack of water in the south of Iran have spread to many cities in Iran. Likewise, power cuts cause protests. Strikes against working conditions in dozens of factories in the petrochemical sector have been going on for a month. Speaking to our newspaper, an Iranian from Ahvaz said, “This revolt is not a wild and sudden protest. This is a popular uprising," he said.

WATER AND ELECTRICITY PROTESTS

Among the policies carried out by the Iranian regime since the first day is to exploit all the natural resources of Iran for the profit of the capital groups that are not independent of the regime. The intense power cuts experienced by the Iranian people and the water problem spread by the drying up of lakes and rivers left the farmers in a difficult situation. In the southern parts, especially in Khuzestan province, the farmers' animals die, their fields dry up, and they do not have water to meet even their simplest daily needs such as drinking water and bathing.

The south of Iran is a region where Iranians of Arab origin live. Farmers accuse the regime of “discrimination” because of its policy of transferring water here to other regions.

Meanwhile, the protests that started in the provinces of Ahvaz, Susangerd, Mahsahr and Hamidiye are being harshly suppressed by the police and the Revolutionary Guards. However, the public's reaction to the violence of the security forces was also harsh. Tanks and police cars that came to the squares were burned. The angry people's slogans "We are thirsty, we will take back the water you stole and all our resources" began to be heard in many cities.

On the other hand, strikes are carried out in about 105 factories in the petrochemical industry in Iran. The factory workers call on all peoples of Iran to struggle is also answered.

"THIS IS A PEOPLE'S UPRISING"

An Iranian who participated in the protests in Ahvaz, whose name we did not publish for security reasons, spoke to our newspaper: “This revolt is not a wild and sudden protest. This is a popular uprising. The people do not even have drinking water, many people living in the world cannot understand this. From the beginning to the end of this drought, those responsible are clear. The popular uprising is highly political and radical. We are trying to survive. They took everything from us. We are hungry, we are poor, we are thirsty. The Islamic Republic is causing chapped lips, dry throats, drought and the destruction of life. People want to take control of their own lives.”

AT LEAST 8 PEOPLE HAVE LOST THEIR LIVES

With the spread of the protests, the Iranian police started to open fire on the people with live bullets. At least 8 people have lost their lives. According to Iranian media, the names of the dead are Hadi Bahmani, Mohammad Abdollahi, Mostafa Naimavi, Ghasem Khaziri, Mohammad Krushat, Farzad Farisavi, Farshid Kazemi and Mohammad Alkanani. Many injured are in hospitals and their condition is stated to be serious. In the cities of Sush, Deshte Azadegan and Abadan, the police carried out operations against the protests and there are many detentions. Protests broke out in cities such as Behbahan, Tehran and Ramshir as the violence increased. The slogans "Do not be afraid, we are all united" and "Down with the Iranian regime" drew attention in the protests there.