IRGC Official’s Presence at Ahvaz Steel Workers’ Protest Rally and Increase in Arrests

The number of detained Ahvaz steel workers has increased to 31 people. The commander of IRGC operations in Khuzestan province has asked workers to resume production. Ali Shamkhani, secretary of Iran’s Supreme National Security Council, is heading to Khuzestan.

In continuation of the protests by workers of the National Steel Group of Ahvaz, security forces arrested 16 more workers at their homes in the early morning hours of Monday, December 17 (Azar 26). According to reports, the number of detained workers continues to increase. The Free Union of Workers announced the detained workers, stating that 31 people have been arrested from Sunday midnight until Monday noon. Some of these workers were arrested during the protest rally on Monday.

The CEO of the National Steel Group of Ahvaz confirmed the arrest of a number of workers in a conversation with Iran’s Labor News Agency, ILNA.

The Free Union of Workers’ Telegram channel reported: “Workers of the National Steel Group of Ahvaz gathered on Monday, December 17, on the 38th day of their strike on Naderi Street in Ahvaz. However, security forces surrounded them.”

Mohammad Hossein Bagheri, the IRGC commander in Khuzestan province, appeared on Monday among workers who had gathered to protest the arrests of their colleagues. Bagheri called on the workers to remain calm and asked them to resume production.

According to ILNA, the IRGC commander in Khuzestan province assured the workers: “Arrested individuals from the workers’ ranks will be released by the end of today, Azar 26.”

Workers of the National Steel Group of Ahvaz have been continuously participating in large protest gatherings for about two months in protest of the “deplorable employment situation,” “non-payment of wages and halted production” at this facility, and “failure to fulfill officials’ promises” to meet workers’ demands. These gatherings have taken place in front of the provincial governor’s building and the representative office of the Supreme Leader in the cities of Shush and Ahvaz.

The Tehran and Suburbs United Bus Workers’ Syndicate and the Union of Truck Owners and Drivers Associations across Iran issued separate statements condemning the arrest of Ahvaz steel workers and calling for the release of detained workers.

Ahvaz Representative: Workers’ Voices and Grievances Must Be Heard

Javad Kazemnesbat Albaji, the representative of Ahvaz residents in the Islamic Consultative Assembly, while expressing unfamiliarity with the “details of the matter” regarding the arrest of workers of the National Steel Group of Ahvaz, stated that he does not approve of the arrest of workers in general and condemns it. Kazemnesbat Albaji called for dialogue and investigation into the reasons for workers’ protests. He said: “The arrest of workers in general is condemned; I do not approve of the arrest of any worker in any manner and I condemn it, because labor issues should be resolved through discussion and dialogue, not arrest.”

In conversation with ILNA, Kazemnesbat Albaji, while expressing hope for improved working conditions at this facility, assured that as the representative of Ahvaz, he will “seriously pursue” the situation of detained workers of the National Steel Group of Ahvaz.

Shamkhani’s Trip to Khuzestan Province

According to reports from Iran’s news agencies, Ali Shamkhani, the representative of Ayatollah Khamenei and secretary of the Supreme National Security Council, will travel to Ahvaz on Wednesday, December 19 (Azar 28).

The purpose of Shamkhani’s trip to Ahvaz has been stated as “attending the meeting of the Administrative Council of Khuzestan Province and reviewing the latest situation and developments of this province” and “participating and speaking at the tenth commemoration ceremony of Martyr Tandguyegan and 1055 Oil Industry Martyrs.”

In announcing Shamkhani’s trip to Khuzestan province to “review the latest situation and developments of this province,” there was no mention of addressing the situation of Ahvaz steel workers.

The Free Union of Workers announced the names of workers arrested on Sunday midnight and Monday, December 17 (Azar 26), as follows: 1- Maysam Alighnavaati 2- Isa Marei 3- Amin Alawani 4- Morteza Akbarian 5- Tariq Khalfi 6- Masoud Afri 7- Jafar Sabahani 8- Mustafa Obayat 9- Gharib Hoveyzavi 10- Karim Siyahi 11- Hamed Basri 12- Hafez Kananani 13- Hamed Joudaki 14- Hossein Davudi 15- Kazem Heydari 16- Yaser Ebrahimian 17- Majid Janadehleh 18- Kourosh Esmaili 19- Ali Aqba 20- Mohsen Baluti 21- Mohammad Pour Hasan 22- Mohsen Behbahani 23- Seyyed Habib Tabatabai 24- Jasem Roomzai 25- Ali Etmami 26- Seyyed Ali Javadpour 27- Javad Gholami 28- Abdolreza Dasti 29- Seyyed Ahmad Seyyed Noor 30- Fereydoun Sheikh Rabat 31- Ehsan Yousefi

Source: DW