The People’s Mojahedin Organization of Iran (PMOI/MEK) is reporting dozens of protests across Iran in the last five days, which they say reflect the country’s “explosive state”.
Let’s look at some of these.
Wednesday, February 3, 2021
Retirees receiving Social Security gathered in 20 cities across Iran to protest their deteriorating living conditions, marking the third nationwide protests by retirees in 2021.
They chanted: “Inflation, high prices are taking away the people’s lives, down with Rouhani.”
#IranProtests on February 3:
— IranNewsUpdate (@IranNewsUpdate1) February 5, 2021
1–Rally of Social Security Retirees
2–Rally of Glass Workers
3–Rally of Tehran Stock Market Shareholders
4–Rally of Car Customers
5–Locals Protest Cut-off of Potable Water
6–Rally of Petrochemical Workers pic.twitter.com/li3BOphXzF
Maryam Rajavi, the President of the National Council of Resistance of Iran (NCRI), said: “So long as this regime is in power, poverty, inflation, and unemployment, as well as corruption and repression will increase. The only way to resolve it, is to get rid Iran of the ruling religious fascism and establish freedom and justice in our captive homeland.”
Tuesday, February 2, 2021
The creditors of Padideh Financial institution in Mashhad demanded the return of the investments. Padideh and other investment firms are linked to the Revolutionary Guards (IRGC) and there have been several related protests over the course of the year.
Stockholders protested in Vanak square, Tehran, after security forces stopped them from gathering in front of the SEO building. The Stock Market collapsed on January 24 after the stock bubble burst and many people lost their life savings.
Monday, February 1, 2021
Locals in Turkabad, Yazd province, protested the regime’s inaction over pollution.
They said: “For a long time, Ardakan Industrial Town has been discharging the sewage of companies in the roads and aqueducts near the city. The canals in the area have been flooded, and the aquifers have been destroyed. Currently, industrial sewage passes through the city like a flood, and the stench has created health problems for locals.”
While Homa Airlines workers and retirees rallied outside the company to protest unpaid and unjust wages.
One sign read: “We, Homa retirees, demand justice on the issue of equalization of salaries, and we will not give up until our right is realized.”
Contract workers at Pars Energy Special Economic Zone Organization protested low wages and the National Oil Company and Oil Ministry’s failure to implement directives that would improve their employment status.
Sunday, January 31, 2021
Contract teachers protested outside the Parliament over the wage gap between them and other teachers, highlighting that they earn just 2 million tomans, when the poverty line in 10 million.
Literacy movement instructors also protested outside parliament over their employment status.
Saturday, January 30, 2021
Iran Khodro employees in Tabriz went on strike over non-payment of their salaries for months and the firing of many colleagues.
While locals in Khomeini Port protested a visit by vice-president Eshagh Jahangiri.
The protests have cause the state-run media to warn about the likelihood of an uprising by the people, with the state-run Vatan-e Emrooz daily saying that protests against visits by officials are now commonplace.
The paper wrote: “Certainly, the point that we should not ignore is the accumulation of anger that has arisen among the people, especially in deprived and remote areas. There have been several examples in recent months that should be taken seriously as warnings.”
