At least 177 protests took place in 57 cities, villages, and industrial regions in Iran during the month of August, according to reports from the people’s Mojahedin Organization of Iran (PMOI / MEK) sources inside Iran. More than 21 people were sentenced to prison or lashes due to their participation in protests in August.

The following is a summary of the protests that took place in Iran during August:

Workers

Total number of protests: 83

Locations: 29 cities, commercial areas, and industrial towns in 20 provinces

Protesters: Forest rangers at the Shafavard Forest Company, workers in the Sisakht municipality, HEPCO workers in the city of Arak, Fasa Sugar Cube factory workers, and RAMCO (Rehabilitation & Maintenance Petrochemical Co.) workers in the city of Ahvaz.

#Iran RAMPCO workers gather in the southwestern city of Ahwaz to demand 6 months of delayed paychecks. The regime ignores the economic woes of Iranians even while most of the population live in poverty. #IranProtests pic.twitter.com/ySIzssPYvA

— Iran News Wire (@IranNW) August 24, 2019

The workers protested low and delayed wages, lack of job security, the dismissal of workers, non-renewal of contracts, and privatization.

Defrauded Credit Customers

Total number of protests: 12

Locations: 4 cities

Protesters: Defrauded customers of the Revolutionary Guards-affiliated Caspian Credit Institution, Ramak Auto, Avizco Auto, Shadi Gold Institute, Adineh Complex, Persian Pars Auto, and the Kimia project.

The protesters demanded the return of their stolen savings.

Retirees

Total number of protests: 6

Locations: 4 cities

Protesters: Retirees of the Fars Province Telecommunications Company, the Nilo Tile factory, the Isfahan Telecommunication Company, and the Tehran metro, and pensioners in the northwestern province of Eastern Azerbaijan.

Teachers

Total number of protests:17

Locations: 8 cities in 8 provinces

Teachers protested low and unpaid wages, poor living conditions, the lack of official hiring status, and the arrest of their colleagues. Schools are currently on summer break, so these protests are noteworthy.

Other Protests

Total number of protests: 38

Locations: 28 cities in 19 provinces

Protesters: Employees of rural telecommunications; disabled Iranians; villagers in Hani Garmaleh, Kermanshah Province; and landowners in Mahmoud Abad, Mazandaran Province.

Hail to the brave teachers in #Iran who held protest gatherings to demand their basic rights. The mullahs’ rule is entwined with oppression and discrimination. Rights are to be earned, and as you cried out, no one should tolerate injustice and discrimination.

— Maryam Rajavi (@Maryam_Rajavi) August 4, 2019

Hunger Strikes by Iranian Prisoners

Total number of hunger strikes: 13

Locations: 8 prisons in 7 cities

Prisoners who embarked on hunger strikes included :

• Akbar Gavili, a civil rights activist and former member of the Kurdistan Green Association, in protest of his arrest;
• female prisoners in Section 5 of Tehran’s Qarchak Prison, in protest of prison conditions;
• Mohammad Najafi, a lawyer, and activist currently detained in Arak Prison, in protest of being held in quarantine;
• Kamran Darvish, a political prisoner in Orumieh Central Prison in protest of not being released on bail;
• Akbar Bagheri, a political prisoner currently detained in Greater Tehran Penitentiary in protest of his prison sentence, not receiving an appeal in the Supreme Court, not receiving medical attention, and being sent to Greater Tehran Prison;
• Ali Ashraf Parvaneh in protest of not being allowed to leave after 18 years in prison.
• Environmentalists Amir Hossein Khaleghi, Taher Ghadirian, Sepideh Kashani, Homan Jukar, and Nilofar Bayani in protest of their continued illegal temporary detention;
• Hamzeh Darvish, a Sunni prisoner currently being held in Rajaie Shahr Prison in protest of not being allowed to choose his lawyer and issues related to his legal case;
• Amir Nourzehi, an Afghan national currently held in Zahedan Prison in protest of prison officials’ refusal to tell him who filed charges against him.

The MEK salutes the brave protesters who continue to stand up to the mullahs despite the regime’s attempts to intimidate and suppress them.

Staff Writer

Hashem Khastar, a representative of the freedom-loving teachers in Iran published an article providing an honest account of the role smaller ‘fake’ opposition movements have in furthering the Iranian regime’s agenda in Iran. The article, titled ‘Little Democrats’ shared in Telegram Messaging platform, talks about the current status and support that is rightly given to the Iranian opposition groups MEK in Iran.

His article sheds light on the dubious tactics of the Iranian regime in their attempts to draw support away from the MEK towards the monarchist camps. Mr. Khastar described this situation as “disorganized and sporadic” at best. In support of Reza Pahlavi, moles sent into the fold have encouraged the use of vulgar language against the regime and MEK catching MEK needlessly in the crosshairs and drumming up general confusion around the MEK’s political position. He also expressed concerns that these subversives are spending time in prison so that they not only become popular but also to gain credibility among the Iranian people who are desperate for change and are looking for leaders to help topple the Iranian regime as it currently stands. Khastar comments; “Others, unknowingly, may even find themselves in the ranks of security forces, and instead of focusing their attention on the regime, they place all their will against the PMOI/MEK.

Hashem Khastar, representative of freedom loving teachers in Iran
“Everyone knows PMOI/MEK is the regime’s main enemy”#FreeIran
https://t.co/ZbO3nMhr1T

— Monika (@ofogheazadi) August 15, 2019

He writes:

“Everyone knows the PMOI/MEK is the regime’s main enemy because it enjoys a firm organizational structure. According to the regime’s own rulers, they have been involved in all the protests and uprisings. On the other hand, monarchists are very sporadic in their efforts and lack any organization. Therefore, the regime is attempting to push freedom fighters towards the monarchists’ camp. The regime has also sent many of its moles into their files to support Reza Pahlavi while using vulgar language towards the regime and the PMOI/MEK. Meaning they place the PMOI/MEK in their crosshairs.”

Mr. Khastar continues to say that the intent of writing this article was not to show support or opposition to any specific organization but rather to become a truthful voice to those who wish to throw their support behind a legitimate democratic opposition to the oppressive Iranian regime.

“I intend to voice the truth for everyone to know in which camp they are fighting and if they are true democrats or little democrats. Furthermore, a freedom fighter can be useful in the transition period to democracy, and the period afterward. We all know that following the 1979 revolution, Iranian minorities, such as the Kurds, Arabs, Turkmens, Baluchis and… all had movements seeking to fulfill their rights yet were oppressed through extreme crackdown measures. Those demands are very much alive today and have spread throughout the country. After the Islamic republic is toppled, in a free and democratic state in the future, these minorities must definitely have their rights fulfilled under Iran’s geographic framework. In this path, there may be tensions following the overthrow of the Islamic republic. Only true democrats will be able to help resolve this issue, while little democrats will have no place. Little democrats always talk about the opposition to maybe establish fake opposition movements, with strings attached to the security forces.”

Staff writer

On Thursday, May 2nd, educators in dozens of cities across Iran answered a nationwide call to protest in recognition of Teachers’ Day. Teachers gathered in front of local Ministry of Education offices and demonstrated in the streets in protest of low wages, poor benefits and working conditions, the inability to form labor unions, and the imprisonment of activist teachers. Protests took place in the cities of Tehran, Torbat-e Heydariyeh, Sanandaj, Urmia, Yazd, Hamedan, Divandareh, Mallard, Tabriz, Qazvin, Javanrood, Ardebil, Kermanshah, Homayounshahr, Sari, Khorramabad, Marivan, Mahabad, Karaj, Mashhad, and many others.

Protest in Hamadan

 

Teachers in the city of Hamadan held handwritten signs reading: “Imprisoned teachers must be freed.”

“Stop privatizing schools and education.”

“Children must receive a free and quality education.”

“We demand decent pay for our work.”

One of the protesting teachers at the Hamadan rally gave a speech to the assembled demonstrators.

Protest in Kermanshah

In the city of Kermanshah, teachers and educational support workers held a gathering in honor of Teachers’ Day. The teachers chanted: “Majlis [the regime’s parliament] and the government do not care about the teachers!”

Protests in Tehran

 

In the capital city of Tehran, teachers and educational support workers gathered in front of the Ministry of Education building to protest. They carried handwritten signs reading: “Imprisoned teachers must be freed.”

“Imprisoned workers must be freed.”

“Your pain is our pain, people must rise up and join us.”

Protests in Mallard

 

In Mallard, Tehran Province, teachers, and educational support workers held a rally in honor of Teachers’ Day. They carried posters and signs reading: “Free education is the right of every child.”

“We demand salary and wages above the poverty line for teachers and pensioners.”

A number of other cities are reported to have joined in the nationwide protests as well.

Maryam Rajavi’s Remarks

 

Mrs. Maryam Rajavi, President-elect of the National Council of Resistance of Iran (NCRI), issued a call to the Iranian people to support the protesting teachers. She also asked human rights groups and international teachers unions to take action to free teachers who have been detained and imprisoned by the Iranian regime.

Hail to protesting teachers in Tehran, Mashad, Kermanshah, Tabriz, Sanandaj, Yazd, Ourumieh, Qazvin, Karaj, Hamedan, Ardebil, Esfahan, Sari, Khoramabab, Rasht, Ilam, Mahabad, Shiraz & Arak who chanted “Imprisoned teachers must be freed” &“Workers, Teachers, Unite” #Iran

— Maryam Rajavi (@Maryam_Rajavi) May 2, 2019

Mrs. Rajavi tweeted some of the chants heard at Thursday’s protests, noting that their anger reflects a desire for change. She wrote:

“Teachers’ protests and their stand against repressive rgm forces showed public anger & disgust at religious dictatorship and demand for change; ‘People join us, our problem is your problem,’ ‘Teachers are imprisoned, extortionists are free,’
#Iran”
She also saluted the protesting teachers in cities across Iran, tweeting:

I call on #Iran people, specially students, to support teachers and their rightful demands. International human rights orgs & teachers unions worldwide should condemn clerical rgm & take urgent action to freed detained and imprisoned teachers

— Maryam Rajavi (@Maryam_Rajavi) May 2, 2019

“Hail to protesting teachers in Tehran, Mashad, Kermanshah, Tabriz, Sanandaj, Yazd, Ourumieh, Qazvin, Karaj, Hamedan, Ardebil, Esfahan, Sari, Khoramabab, Rasht, Ilam, Mahabad, Shiraz & Arak who chanted ‘Imprisoned teachers must be freed” &“Workers, Teachers, Unite’ #Iran”

Iranian teachers took part in a number of protests last year, including multiple nationwide strikes, and their demands have been ignored by the regime. Many of the teachers responsible for organizing the protests have been arrested and imprisoned, and their colleagues have repeatedly called for their release, as well as the release of colleagues who have been imprisoned for their participation in labor unions.

 

The MEK supports fair labor practices for teachers and all workers and has called for the release of these political prisoners and an end to the repressive regime responsible for their imprisonment.

Staff writer

On Wednesday, April 24, teachers in Tehran turned out to protest their unpaid salaries and appalling living and working conditions. In a protest outside the Iranian Education Ministry’s buildings in Tehran, protestors chanted, “we want our reward and it’s our legal right”.

Iran Protests – April 24, a group of retired teachers' rally https://t.co/zuJRnGrGOR via @YouTube

— TAHER (@TAHER___21) April 25, 2019

Simultaneously, in Baneh, in western Iran, construction workers took to the streets to protest rising insurance premiums and rampant unemployment.

An Economic Tragedy

Protests like these have been widespread in recent months. The endemic corruption and the Iranian regime’s mismanagement of the economy have created an economic crisis.

Inflation at the end of 2018 was up by 34.9% on the previous year’s levels. The International Monetary Fund (IMF) expected inflation to increase to 40% in 2019. There have been reports of families selling organs to keep food on the table and make ends meet.

Beyond horrific: This is the #Iran the mullahs have created for its people:

Iranians are selling their body organs to make ends meethttps://t.co/rHh6klCDqW pic.twitter.com/ag049CB8hO

— Donya Jam (@FreeeIran) December 4, 2018

Unemployment has also been rising and is expected to increase by a further 13 or 14% in 2019.

In the face of this economic hardship, the regime has done nothing to ease Iranians’ financial burdens. Instead of introducing policies to ease the hardship, it has plundered Iranian assets. Corruption and high import tariffs and tolls are further squeezing Iranian finances and increasing poverty.

Regime Manipulation

To avoid paying public workers a higher salary, the Iranian regime has manipulated poverty figures. The poverty line, under which Iranians were considered to be living in poverty, still sits at 3 million Tomans, despite rampant inflation.

The regime, in an attempt to keep wages low and manipulate poverty figures, has not changed the official poverty line. The equivalent poverty line in today’s terms, after accounting for inflation, would be applied to salaries of less than 6 million Tomans. The regime is unwilling to amend its definition as it would have to increase public sector pay.

“Before this, I received 2.7 million Tomans since I had two children but in the new contract, my salary was reduced to 1.5 million Tomans,” a worker from Nishapur said.

A Rising Protest Movement

While the regime buries its head in the sand and the economic crisis worsens, the opposition movement is growing stronger. Protests organized by the People’s Mujahedin Organisation of Iran (MEK) have swept across the country and spread to all sectors of Iranian society.

This week, it was teachers and construction workers. Next week it could be pensioners, students, factory workers, farmers, truck drivers and taxi drivers taking to the street. Nobody is exempt from the grip of poverty.

We believe it is possible to eradicate poverty, unemployment, shanty dwelling, water shortage and environmental calamities. But, before anything else, the trampled political rights, specifically the right to sovereignty of the Iranian people, must be restored and revived#Iran pic.twitter.com/R6nQVBlS16

— Maryam Rajavi (@Maryam_Rajavi) July 18, 2018

In the final weeks of 2018, there were protests almost every day from workers demanding unpaid salaries and protesting appalling working and living conditions.

The status quo cannot continue. The Iranian people must make their voices heard and say enough is enough.

Staff writer

Teachers in more than thirty cities across Iran protested for the second consecutive day on Monday. The teachers, who plan to continue their sit-in tomorrow, are protesting low pay, low-quality insurance and benefits, and gross mismanagement of the education system. Iran’s teachers staged a number of strikes and protests over these issues last year, but their demands went unanswered, so they were forced to protest once again.

March 4 – #Iran
Latest images of teachers across the country protesting and on strike for the second day.#IranProtests pic.twitter.com/p9ZxRX0x6H

— People's Mojahedin Organization of Iran (PMOI/MEK) (@Mojahedineng) March 4, 2019

Teachers are among the many government employees and retirees who are actively protesting the regime’s corruption and mismanagement of Iran’s economy. As the rial continues to plunge in value, people from all sectors of society are struggling to provide for their families. Teachers’ salaries have remained stagnant despite skyrocketing inflation, making their financial situations particular dire.

Education Funding in Doubt

The regime parliament is currently negotiating the budget for the upcoming Persian year, As the March 21st deadline grows near, teachers are worried that education will not be receive adequate funding and that teachers, government employees, and schools in general will continue to suffer due to the regime’s misplaced priorities. The regime spends billions of dollars every year exporting terrorism, funding conflict in the region, and building its nuclear program. Meanwhile, the people of Iran fall further into poverty. Iran’s teachers struggle to meet their basic needs, and protesters say that the Ministry of Education is doing nothing to help.

Additional Demands

 

The teachers’ also demand:

• that the regime provide free education to all, as stated in its own laws;
• the cancellation of legislation that would create an undue burden on current and future teachers;
• the release of colleagues who were imprisoned for organizing on behalf of teachers and/or taking part in earlier protests and strikes;
• the right to organize labor unions.

Support from the MEK and NCRI

The teachers of Iran have the full support of the MEK and the Iranian Resistance in their fight for fair treatment. Mrs. Maryam Rajavi, President-elect of the National Council of Resistance of Iran (NCRI), tweeted in support of the protesting teachers, calling on the Iranian people to join their cause. She wrote:

#Iran’s freedom-loving teachers have once again risen up to demand their rights. They have staged sit-ins to declare support for the imprisoned teachers.#IranProtests
— Maryam Rajavi (@Maryam_Rajavi) March 3, 2019

Cities Participating in the Protests

As of Monday, March 4th, teachers in the following cities have joined in the nationwide protests:

Tehran
Tabriz
Isfahan
Shiraz
Mashhad
Kermanshah
Hamedan
Karaj
Qazvin
Alborz
Sanandaj
Marivan
Baneh
Shar-e Ray
Saqqez
Kazerun
Mahabad
Parand
Kamiaran
Homayounshahr
Sarv Abad
Paveh
Takestan
Zanjan
Khoram Abad
Torbat Heydarieh
Divandareh
Tulmat (Gilan)
Bojnurd
Mohammad Abad (Isfahan)

 

Last year Iranian teachers held a number of protests and strikes, receiving widespread support from the Iranian people. In May, October, and November teachers in a number of cities across Iran launched strikes that lasted for several days. The teachers of Iran have continued their protests despite retaliation and intimidation by the regime. Numerous activists and protesters have been imprisoned for speaking out against the unfair conditions faced by teachers, but the brave educators of Iran will not be deterred. The regime’s tactics of suppression are no longer effective in the face of organized resistance.

Staff Writer

 

 

 

The MEK sources inside Iran reported on Thursday, February 7th, that the security forces in Iran attacked hundreds of protesters, many of whom were teachers, during a demonstration for water rights in Isfahan.

The protesters assembled near the Zayanderud River earlier that day to demand that the regime allow the river to flow through the Isfahan region so that farmers there can water their crops. Over the past nine years, the regime has built factories upstream of the river and diverted water to other regions. This has dried the river before it could reach Isfahan. The once prosperous farmers in the region have been left without water to irrigate their crops. Agriculture is the primary industry in Isfahan, so virtually everyone in the province has been affected by the loss of water. Farmers in Isfahan have been protesting for water rights off and on for the past year, but their concerns were dismissed until recently.

Teacher and people from all walks of life held a large rally in Isfahan, central #Iran.#IranProtestshttps://t.co/edd1BEf708

— People's Mojahedin Organization of Iran (PMOI/MEK) (@Mojahedineng) February 8, 2019

A Temporary Solution

The regime recently bowed to public pressure and opened the river, after more than a year of protests by Isfahan’s farmers, allowing the waters of the Zayanderud to flow once more into the region. Videos on social media show water flowing under the Khaju Bridge for the first time in nine years. Locals celebrated the return of water to Isfahan. One man was so overcome with joy that he kissed the ground. The regime has only agreed to open the Zayanderud temporarily, though, so protesters gathered on Thursday to demand that the Iranian regime make the change permanent.

The protesters chanted: “A nation has never seen such injustice!”; “Teachers would rather die than face dishonor!”; and “Our enemy is right here; they lie when they say it’s the U.S.!”

#Iran: Security forces attack peaceful gathering near Isfahan’s Zayanderud River
Security forces attacked a peaceful gathering by hundreds of people including teachers near the Zayanderud River in the central city of Isfahan. #IranProtests #FreeIran pic.twitter.com/XhuFCTPtwX

— NCRI-FAC (@iran_policy) February 8, 2019

Teacher Protesters

Reports from the MEK network indicate that many of the protesters were teachers from Isfahan who spread the word to others, asking them to join the protest. People from various sectors of society heeded the call and also participated in the protest. Pictures of the protest shared on social media show teachers holding up photographs of fellow teachers who have been imprisoned for participating in labor unions or taking part in teachers’ strikes and protests over the past few months. Teachers across Iran have staged a number of strikes and protests to demand better pay and working conditions, the right to form labor unions, and the release of their imprisoned colleagues. The regime has responded by arresting and imprisoning teachers for protesting and ignoring their demands.

Photo shows teachers holding up pictures of jailed teachers demanding their release during today's peaceful gathering by hundreds of people near the Zayanderud River in the central city of Isfahan #Iran pic.twitter.com/WJk67ObLnd

— IRAN HRM (@IranHrm) February 7, 2019

Tear Gas and Pepper Spray

Regime security forces arrived on the scene of the rally and attacked the peaceful protesters with tear gas and pepper spray in an attempt to end the demonstration and disperse the protesters. The Iranian people have been protesting for over a year though, and no longer fear the regime or its security forces, so the protesters were not deterred. The people chanted, “Don’t be afraid, we’re all together!” and “We are teachers, not criminals!” to the security forces as they attacked.

Regime Suppression

The regime has been quick to suppress any rally or other forms of dissent, fearing that protests could spread and lead to calls for regime change. Since the massive nationwide uprising began in December 2017, anti-regime protests have threatened to topple the mullahs and replace them with a democratic alternative. The MEK has grown in popularity, which terrifies the regime, who sees the MEK as an existential threat. The theocratic regime has responded to the widespread unrest with a brutal crackdown of all dissent, arresting thousands, imposing harsh criminal sentences, executing citizens in large numbers, torturing detainees, targeting protesters and political activists for harassment, and engaging in terrorist activities on European soil against the MEK.

Despite these brutal acts of suppression, the people of Iran have not ceased their calls for regime change and continue to protest for freedom from the mullahs’ rule.

Staff Writer

 

A recent report from Our Iran described protests in Iran during the month of April 2018. The report that is mainly based on reports from the Mujahedin-e-Khalq (MEK) network inside Iran, indicates that there were a total of 452 protests and gatherings last month in Iran, averaging 15 per day. Protesters came from all walks of life, from farmers to teachers to those looted by financial institutions. Women and youth made up a sizable proportion of those protesting. The April protests can be broken down as follows:

 

• Labor protests: 109
• Plundered people protests: 39
• Student protests: 16
• Retiree protests: 7
• Teacher protests: 8
• Other sectors: 245

 

Workers

Reports from MEK’s network, shows, labor protests made up a large percentage of total protests in April. Workers protested for many reasons, including lack of employment, dismissals, failure of employers to pay wages, job uncertainty, and recruitment of non-partisan forces.

 

Victims of Plundering

Protests by looted people took place in 13 cities across Iran in April. Women played a large part in these protests. Protesters closed buildings and looted businesses, throwing garbage and rotten eggs and fruit at the businesses that looted their financial accounts.

 

Retirees

Retirees protested in two cities in Iran this April. They protested the retirement age, lack of benefits and matching funds for retirees, and the inability to achieve the required years of service in order to retire.

 

Teachers

MEK network also reports that Iranian teachers gathered in five different cities to protest the withholding of their salaries for months and sometimes up to a year. A number of teachers resigned en masse in response to rumors that Director General of Education was going to be dismissed. And teachers protested for the release of Mohammad Habibi, a teacher who was detained by the regime. After a series of protests for his freedom, the regime bowed to pressure and released him.

 

Students

University students held protests in eight cities across Iran in April. They had a variety of concerns, including the firing of a professor, more possible firings of faculty, poor food quality on campuses, mismanagement and corruption by university officials, and poor wages and employment status. Students also protested in support of striking businessmen and marketers in Kurdistan.

 

Other Protests

Another 245 protests reported by MEK sources in Iran in 73 cities did not fit into any of the above categories. The protesters and their causes were varied and diverse. There were protests against closing border crossings and increasing tariffs. Kurdish businessmen and marketers protested an offensive characterization by state media. Farmers protested against poor economic conditions. Farmers and many other citizens protested unfair water rights and lack of access to water.

 

The number of protests grew from March to April as the widespread uprising against the ruling regime continues. May is on pace to surpass the April protests.

Staff Writer