Khuzestan: Internet Disruptions and Officials’ “Swift” Solutions

Following continued public protests against water shortages in Khuzestan, local activists have reported internet disruptions and outages in various parts of the province. NetBlocks also confirmed regional disruptions in mobile internet service in Iran starting a week ago.

On the eighth consecutive day of protests against water and electricity shortages in Khuzestan, social media users on Thursday, July 31 (July 22) reported severe internet disruptions and outages in several cities in the province, including Ahvaz, Shadegan, Mahshahr, and Masjed Soleyman.

NetBlocks, the global internet traffic monitoring body, confirmed that it has evidence of regional disruptions in mobile internet service in Iran starting a week ago.

The company linked the internet disruptions to the beginning of public protests in Khuzestan.

Ebrahim Raisi, Iran’s incoming president, also emphasized the importance of addressing the problems of this province, particularly water scarcity, in a special meeting.

Raisi, who spoke on Thursday, July 31 at a meeting titled “Examining Khuzestan Province’s Issues,” stated that the purpose of holding this special meeting was to seize the opportunity in finding “operational solutions” to resolve the province’s problems, adding, “Everything that is possible must be implemented starting now.”

Raisi: I Will Appoint a Special Governor

Raisi, whose presidency will begin in two weeks, said “addressing water shortage problems will be a priority.” He added: “Undoubtedly, today ensuring drinking water for the people and protecting livestock and farmers is a priority, and the people must be assured that the damages inflicted on them will be adequately compensated.”

Raisi cited “appointing a special governor” as one of his practical solutions to Khuzestan’s crisis and added: “In provinces that face special problems, special governors will be selected so that with special authorities, they can periodically raise and follow up on provincial issues in short timeframes by attending government meetings, and addressing deprivation in provinces like Khuzestan and Sistan and Baluchestan will be a priority for all government officials.”

Iran’s incoming president speaks of swift solutions for the longstanding problems of underprivileged provinces, while water and environment experts consider these provinces, including Khuzestan, “victims of officials’ mismanagement and unsustainable development and the accumulation of environmental problems over decades,” and believe that quick and piecemeal solutions will not solve this mountain of problems; rather, they will make the situation worse.

Iran Music House Releases Statement in Solidarity with Khuzestan Protesters

Meanwhile, Iran’s Music House released a statement in solidarity with the peaceful protests of Khuzestan’s people against water and electricity shortages.

In the statement released on Thursday, July 31, it states: “Khuzestan is part of Iran, and Iran, thirsty and tired of injustice and inequality in today’s world, needs unity and compassion more than anything.”

The authors of this statement called for appropriate accountability to the legitimate demands of Khuzestan’s people through “convincing action and implementation,” and wrote that they oppose any violent treatment of the people’s legitimate demands.

In another section of the statement, it says that Khuzestan does not deserve this situation.

According to social media reports, street protests against water shortages and mismanagement in Khuzestan continued on Wednesday, July 30 for the seventh consecutive night.

Some virtual space users have published videos claiming that a public gathering in a park in Shahinshahr, Isfahan was in support of Khuzestan’s street protests.

Some users, by sharing these videos, called Khuzestan protests the “uprising of the thirsty” and called for support from other citizens.

Source: DW