26 Parliament Members Warn Rouhani Over Neglect of Border Region Protests in Kurdish and Baluch Areas

A group of representatives from Kurdish and Baluch border regions have issued a warning to Iran’s Interior Minister and President over what they describe as the government’s disregard for recent protests by residents of border areas.

According to Iranian domestic news agencies, the warning issued by 27 parliament members to the Interior Minister and President on Sunday, May 20, cited “indifference to widespread protests by residents of Kurdish and Baluch towns regarding the closure of border trade exchanges in the western and eastern parts of the country.”

Restrictions imposed by the government on trade exchanges and business activities in border bazaars since the beginning of the new year have increased transaction costs and left some operators in this sector unemployed.

Following the implementation of these restrictions, merchants and workers employed in border bazaars in several Kurdish towns in western Iran went on strike and stopped work. These border bazaar workers have repeatedly held symbolic protests against their business problems by spreading empty tablecloths.

Protesters have demanded the opening of border crossings and smuggling routes and protested against increased tariffs and costs, including shop rental and transportation fees.

However, as representatives from border towns in western and eastern Iran have stated, the government has not heeded the demands of border bazaar workers; consequently, 26 representatives have issued a warning to the Interior Minister and President.

In recent months, problems in commercial border areas in western Iran have sparked numerous protests, and gunfire by security forces against smugglers has resulted in several casualties and injuries.

Source: Voice of America