Iran News: Protests against Housing Scandals, Healthcare Strikes, and Brutal Crackdowns on August 15, 2024
Written by
Mansoureh Galestan
Shahrekord, Western Iran – Residents of Shahrekord staged a major protest outside the Department of Roads and Urban Development. The demonstrators, who are customers of the state-run Maskan-e Melli housing company, are voicing their frustration over undelivered homes and the prolonged lack of accountability. This protest highlights a growing discontent over housing issues in western Iran.
Eqlid, Southern Iran – Nurses at Eqlid Hospital held a significant rally today, joining a wave of healthcare worker protests across the country. They are calling attention to low wages, poor working conditions, and other systemic issues within Iran’s healthcare system. This protest in southern Iran adds to the mounting unrest among medical staff nationwide.
Darab, Southern Iran – Protests by nurses are ongoing in Darab, reflecting widespread discontent among healthcare workers in the region. The protests underscore the deepening crisis in Iran’s healthcare sector.
Strikes by nurses, which began on August 15, continue across various cities, including Shiraz, Yazd, and others. Nurses are demanding immediate increases in wages, removal of mandatory overtime, timely payment of back wages, and improved working conditions. The strikes have garnered support from student organizations and teachers’ unions, emphasizing the widespread nature of the discontent.
August 15—Eqlid, southern Iran
Nurses of Eqlid hospital hold protest rally to join their voice to that of other nurses across the country, who have been protesting low wages, poor conditions, and other problems.#IranProtests pic.twitter.com/rMQZgN5se0— People's Mojahedin Organization of Iran (PMOI/MEK) (@Mojahedineng) August 15, 2024
Kermanshah, Western Iran – Wheat farmers in Kermanshah have rallied against multiple grievances, including unpaid compensation for their crops, power outages affecting their water pumps, and a shortage of fuel for tractors. The protest illustrates the economic pressures facing agricultural workers in western Iran.
Naghdeh, Western Iran – The situation at Naghdeh Prison turned violent on August 15 when security forces raided the prison, destroying and stealing prisoners’ belongings. Inmates protested the raid, resulting in a brutal crackdown by the guards. Reports indicate that several prisoners were injured in the violent response.
August 15—Shahrekord, western Iran
Customers of the state-run Maskan-e Melli housing company rally in front of the office of the Department of Roads and Urban Development, protesting undelivered homes and lack of accountability for several years.#IranProtests pic.twitter.com/MACTrEVbiW— People's Mojahedin Organization of Iran (PMOI/MEK) (@Mojahedineng) August 15, 2024
Rasht, Northern Iran – In Lakan Prison, political prisoners have staged a sit-in following the transfer of two women activists to the Intelligence Department. The identities of the activists have not been disclosed, but their transfer has sparked significant unrest among the prisoners.
Bukan, Western Iran – Tragedy struck in Saruqamish village when five-year-old Seivan Khalandi, working with his family at a local brick kiln, was killed after falling under a forklift. This incident highlights the dangerous and unsanitary working conditions faced by laborers and their families in western Iran.
Tehran
Images of the martyrs of the 1988 massacre (left and right) and Iranian Resistance leader Massoud Rajavi (center) with messages:
"The uprisings will continue until the overthrow of the regime and justice for the martyrs of the massacre"
"We are stronger than executions and… pic.twitter.com/HC9Tj80Ytf— People's Mojahedin Organization of Iran (PMOI/MEK) (@Mojahedineng) August 15, 2024
The escalating protests and strikes across Iran reflect a significant level of public discontent with the current regime. The widespread nature of these movements—from housing issues and healthcare worker strikes to brutal prison crackdowns—indicates a societal push for profound change. The Iranian regime is facing mounting pressure from an increasingly vocal and unified populace and has to choose to either disregard or face the consequences.