Iran Protests: Widespread Rallies Across Cities Reflect Deepening Economic and Social Crisis

Pars Offshore Platforms protest by oil workers- December 21, 2024

Staff WriterDecember 21, 2024
Iran Protests: Widespread Rallies Across Cities Reflect Deepening Economic and Social Crisis
Protests continue to erupt across Iran

Written by
Sedighe Shahrokhi
Protests continue to erupt across Iran as various groups voice their grievances against the regime’s mismanagement, corruption, and repressive policies. Demonstrations in recent days span multiple provinces, reflecting the escalating frustration among Iranians.

In Shiraz, Fars Province (southern Iran), members of the Qashqai tribes gathered in front of the provincial governorate on December 21 to protest the confiscation of their traditional clothing. The move has been widely criticized as an attack on cultural heritage and identity.

In Amol, Mazandaran Province (northern Iran), residents blocked roads on December 21, protesting the government’s neglect of road maintenance, which has led to deadly accidents. The demonstrators demanded immediate action to prevent further loss of life.

On December 20, members of the PMOI Resistance Units in Zahedan reiterated their commitment to continuing uprisings until the overthrow of the regime. Their statement emphasized the growing momentum for regime change across the country.

In Qazvin, northern Iran, defrauded customers of the state-backed Rezayat Khodro carmaker resumed protests on December 18 in front of the courthouse. The demonstrators called for justice and restitution, highlighting the regime’s complicity in fraudulent schemes.

In Kohgiluyeh and Boyer Ahmad Province (southwest Iran), employees of the provincial gas company held a rally on December 18, demanding official recognition and inclusion in the Ministry of Oil and Gas’s employment system. “We have been working as emergency response drivers for five to 18 years, yet we are still not recognized as official employees,” one worker explained.

On the same day in Tehran, students excluded from university entrance exams protested, chanting slogans like “Shout out for your rights!” The rally underscored systemic barriers to education, further alienating young Iranians from the regime.

Separately, reports emerged of a tragic incident involving Damavand Kamangar, a Kurdish merchant from Kamyaran. Kamangar was fatally shot by security forces in Karaj, Alborz Province, on December 15, under the pretext of suspected smuggling. He sustained three gunshot wounds and succumbed to his injuries on December 18 in a Tehran hospital. The killing has sparked outrage, highlighting the regime’s indiscriminate violence against marginalized communities.

On December 17, Contract workers of the Fajr Jam Gas Refinery in Southern Iran protested against delayed wages and unfair treatment. Demonstrators chanted, “Fair wages are our undeniable right,” demanding the regime address their grievances.

On the same day, employees of the provincial gas company in Kohgiluyeh and Boyer Ahmad Province held a rally, decrying years of neglect by the Ministry of Oil and Gas. These protests further underline the regime’s failure to meet the demands of its workers, fueling growing unrest across the nation.

As protests escalate nationwide, they expose the regime’s inability to address the mounting economic, social, and cultural grievances of its people. Calls for justice and systemic change have become louder, signaling a society increasingly unwilling to endure systemic oppression.

Staff WriterDecember 21, 2024
Arab-Islamic Committee in Defence of Ashraf
Back to top button