Protesting Pensioners Hold Gatherings in Several Iranian Cities

A group of pensioners who are dissatisfied with their living conditions and the low level of wages and pensions have once again organized gatherings in various cities across Iran.

These gatherings took place in the cities of Ahvaz, Tehran, Kermanshah, Damghan, and Isfahan, with protesters chanting slogans such as “Leadership, justice, justice,” “Government of justice Ali, all this injustice,” and “We saw no justice, only heard lies” in protest against the current situation.

Over the past year, pensioners, particularly those receiving benefits from the Social Security Organization, have repeatedly held protest rallies in various Iranian cities. The primary demand of pensioners receiving benefits from the Social Security Organization is to receive pensions commensurate with the average cost of living for a four-member urban household and pension reforms.

During protests in Ordibehesht of this year, it was announced that pensions should be set at 12 million and 500 thousand tomans as the basis for wages and living expenses, but given the current inflation rate in Iran, this figure has likely increased.

The Iranian government’s response to these gatherings has typically consisted of efforts to prevent protests, suppression, and in some cases, the arrest of protesters.

In this regard, Esmail Gerami, a protesting pensioner, was sentenced by Branch 26 of the Revolutionary Court to 5 years in prison and 74 lashes.

Mr. Gerami, who was arrested by the Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps, was accused of assembly and conspiracy with the intent to commit crimes against national security.

Beyond pensioners, teachers have also held extensive protest gatherings in recent weeks regarding their living conditions.

In the latest example of these gatherings, on the second day of Dey month, teachers in dozens of Iranian cities gathered to protest the “incomplete” approval of the ranking plan for this profession, gatherings that were met with security force interventions.

The escalation of nationwide protests by educators and pensioners is occurring while the Islamic Republic of Iran faces numerous economic problems, including due to economic sanctions resulting from nuclear activities.

According to a report by Iran’s Statistical Center, the annual inflation rate in November was 44.4 percent, and based on official statistics from the Ministry of Labor, the average price of more than 83 percent of food items in Iran has exceeded critical levels.

Source: Radio Farda