Human Rights,Iran Economy,Iran human rights,Iran Protests,MEK,Mujahedin-e Khalq,National Council of Resistance of Iran (NCRI),NCRI,PMOI,Retirees' Protests
A large number of retirees staged gatherings outside the regime’s Majlis (Parliament)- November 10, 2019
A large group of retirees gathered outside the regime’s Budget and Planning Organization and the Parliament (Majlis) on Sunday in order to protest their appalling living conditions and the failure of their pensions to meet their basic needs. Retirees from many other provinces across the country traveled to join the protests.
The clerical regime tried to stop the protests from taking place and prevent other people from joining the gatherings by blocking the streets leading to the regime’s parliament in order to deny access to the retirees and their supporters. They also stationed hundreds of suppressive forces, over 50 agents riding motorcycles, and dozens of plainclothes agents on location in advance of the gathering to harass, intimidate, and arrest people for protesting.
Despite the mullahs’ suppressive measures, the crowd of retirees, which included many women held their gathering outside Parliament and chanted:
“Imprisoned teachers must be freed”
“We are furious over so much injustice”
“We will not rest until we get what is our right”
“Protest gathering is our inalienable right”
Outside the Planning and Budget Organization, dozens of protesters gathered to have the voices heard, but the suppressive forces of the regime cracked down violently and did not even allow the retirees to speak with one another.
Many protesters were arrested by the regime and had their phones confiscated, even though their only crime was holding a peaceful protest against the Iranian Regime. The mullahs were terrified that the people might release videos or pictures on social media that would expose the regime and go viral so that all the world could see the regime’s abuses.
The Secretariat of the National Council of Resistance of Iran wrote: “The Iranian Resistance hails the protesters and urges the residents of Tehran, especially the young people, to support the retirees. It also calls on the United Nations Human Rights Council and the High Commissioner for Human Rights as well as other human rights organizations to take urgent action to secure the release of those detained.”
July 16 – Tehran, #Iran Retirees rallying outside the regime's Labor Ministry demanding answers to the requests they have been stating for a long period.#IranProtestspic.twitter.com/ddRH9NwxzG
— People's Mojahedin Organization of Iran (PMOI/MEK) (@Mojahedineng) July 16, 2019
The Iranian people have been rising up to protest the regime for corruption, humans rights abuses, warmongering, terrorism, and much more besides for nearly two years and the mullahs are terrified that the people will overthrow them because then the regime’s leaders will be held accountable for their many crimes against the people of Iran, including the 1988 massacre of 30,000 political prisoners. Most of the victims were the members or sympathizers of the People’s Mojahedin Organization of Iran (PMOI, Mujahedin-e Khalq or MEK).
Retired people protest the low salaries below the poverty line in Iran
September and October have brought Iranians from all walks of life into the streets to protest the corrupt regime, as the mullahs’ dictatorship teeters dangerously close to collapse. The regime’s failed economic policies, along with crippling U.S. sanctions, have led to a tsunami of poverty throughout the country. The Iranian regime funds wars and terrorist groups throughout the Middle East, but its own people suffer from poverty, skyrocketing inflation, water shortages, and rampant unemployment.
— People's Mojahedin Organization of Iran (PMOI/MEK) (@Mojahedineng) October 17, 2018
On October 16th, retired Iranian across the country protested against regime policies that have left them to live in poverty. The retirees protested the snowballing economic catastrophe brought on by the regime’s incompetence and mismanagement, including the alarming rate of inflation and the increase in the cost of living. The economic crisis has been particularly hard on the elderly population of Iran.
#Iran A full report of a major protest held Tuesday by retired employees in Tehran demanding protesting poor economic conditions.#IranProtestshttps://t.co/KA9xLMuus8
— People's Mojahedin Organization of Iran (PMOI/MEK) (@Mojahedineng) October 16, 2018
According to Jamshid Taqizade, managing director of the National Retirement Fund, Iranian retirees “have lost 67% of their purchasing power and live with hardship in very poor conditions.”
One retiree spoke of how the retirees’ plight has led young people to join the MEK’s Resistance Units. He said, “[O]ur present situation has disastrous consequences for the youths. They foresee no future for themselves. Our condition leaves young people realizing that life is getting worse for them, therefore they choose to challenge the regime by joining the resisting [MEK Resistance] Units and uprise.”
October 16 Tehran, #Iran Retired government & Healthy Ministry employees protest & chanting: "We won't quit until our rightful demands are met"#IranProtestspic.twitter.com/vS49Jjed0v
— People's Mojahedin Organization of Iran (PMOI/MEK) (@Mojahedineng) October 16, 2018
Many of the protesters were retired teachers, who said that their pensions are less than half of the other retirees. One retired teacher said this about living in poverty: “We are fed up with poverty and having no money. After three decades of teaching, our pension only covers ten days of our expenses. What are we supposed to do for the rest of the month?”
Sources report that protests took place in a number of cities, including Isfahan. The retirees chanted: “No Gaza! No Lebanon! No Syria! My life for Iran!”
U.S. Department of State Spokesperson Heather Nauert voiced her support of those participating in the nationwide strikes in Iran, tweeting this from her official State Department Twitter account.
We are following the reports of nationwide strikes in #Iran. We support the right of the Iranian people to peacefully express their rightful demands. These strikes have a message for the regime: stop wasting Iran’s wealth abroad and start addressing the needs of your own people.
“We are following the reports of nationwide strikes in #Iran. We support the right of the Iranian people to peacefully express their rightful demands. These strikes have a message for the regime: stop wasting Iran’s wealth abroad and start addressing the needs of your own people.”
Iran Protests,l Farmers' Protest,MEK,Mujahedin-e Khalq,National Council of Resistance of Iran (NCRI),NCRI,PMOI,Retirees' Protests,Teachers Protest in Iran,Workers' Protest
Photo Archive, Retirees’ protest against low pension below the poverty line in Iran
A new sector of Iranian society joined the list of striking and protesting groups on Tuesday, as retirees voiced their dissatisfaction with the mullahs’ regime in the latest round of protests in the uprising that has been ongoing since last December.
#Iran A full report of a major protest held Tuesday by retired employees in Tehran demanding protesting poor economic conditions.#IranProtestshttps://t.co/KA9xLMuus8
— People's Mojahedin Organization of Iran (PMOI/MEK) (@Mojahedineng) October 16, 2018
Retirees’ Protests
Reports from MEK’s network inside Iran indicate that a crowd of retirees gathered in front of the Program and Budget organization in Tehran on Tuesday morning to protest unfair policies. Protesters from Fars and Kermanshah provinces, among others, are demanding that their salaries be increased above the poverty line to account for inflation, implementation of a coordinated payment system, balanced salaries, and payment of their insurance premiums.
State-run media reported that protesters complained that their salaries cover less than ten days of expenses each month. Regime officials recently acknowledged that retirees have lost two-thirds of their purchasing power in the past few months, though the actual numbers are far lower.
Teachers’ Protests
Earlier this week, teachers across Iran staged their own protests, refusing to go to their classrooms and holding sit-ins. The teachers were protesting low pay, poor benefits, looted trust reserves, the inability to form unions to advocate for their rights, and the failure of the regime to implement agreed-upon plans. Iranian teachers are also angry that their schools are underfunded, leaving their students poorly served. Finally, the teachers expressed outrage that many of their colleagues have been imprisoned for participating in unions or protesting for teachers’ rights.
Sep 11 – Tehran, #Iran Retired teachers rallying outside the regime's Majlis (parliament) demanding the release of their jailed colleagues.#IranProtests
— People's Mojahedin Organization of Iran (PMOI/MEK) (@Mojahedineng) September 11, 2018
Students in Karaj, Qom, Qeshm, Ahvaz, and Langroud protested in support of the striking teachers. Students from Allameh University and faculty members from the Social Sciences Department of the University of Tehran protested as well, carrying handmade banners, reading: “Imprisoned teachers must be freed!
“Imprisoned students must be freed!”
“Teacher, worker, student, unity, unity!”
Farmers’ Protests
As protests in other sectors have gained momentum, the farmers of Varzaneh in the province of Isfahan have added their voices to the growing protest movement. The farmers are protesting the loss of their water rights and the corrupt regime policies that have led to the drying of Zayandeh Rood, which has destroyed their ability to sustain their way of life. The farmers have been protesting for several days. They made a banner addressed to regime President Rouhani, which sarcastically read: “Do not do any more to revitalize Zayandeh Rood!”
— People's Mojahedin Organization of Iran (PMOI/MEK) (@Mojahedineng) October 18, 2018
Workers’ Protests
Workers are also part of the current protests. Hundreds of workers from the municipality of Sushtar gathered in front of the municipality’s building for the second consecutive day to protest. They have not received their salaries or bonuses for several months.
Economic unrest and dissatisfaction with the regime’s corruption and mismanagement have reached a fever pitch in Iran. Protests and strikes grow in strength and number on a daily basis.
