Isfahan Farmers’ Protest Rally Continues on Wednesday
Images and news published on social media indicate that protests by Isfahan farmers continued on Wednesday.
Based on images published on Wednesday, April 22, farmers from eastern Isfahan in Ziar and Khorasgan gathered again and protested the non-allocation of their water rights.
پس از دستگیری یک کشاورز اهل «زیار» #اصفهان در تظاهرات امروز خوراسگان، کشاورزان زیار به خیابان آمدند و جاده را بستند. pic.twitter.com/vV0iwTxCHM
— شهروندیار (@shahrvandyar) April 11, 2018
In messages published on social media, it is reported that farmers chanted: “Today is mourning, today is a day of mourning, the farmer’s life hangs in the balance today.”
News has also been published about the arrest of one of the farmers and the holding of a rally to protest his detention.
Wednesday’s gathering took place while eastern Isfahan farmers had also held protest rallies in recent days.
On Tuesday, Isfahan farmers gathered to protest the water crisis in the province and chanted slogans criticizing the government’s performance.
In videos published on several Telegram channels and confirmed by several Isfahan residents in interviews with Voice of America, protesters demanded attention to their livelihood situation and the return of their water rights from the Zayandeh River. These protesters, mostly farmers, chanted slogans such as: “If water doesn’t flow, tomorrow will be catastrophe,” “Isfahan with honor, support, support,” and “Victory is from God and triumph is near, death to this deceptive government.”
This is one of several protest rallies by Isfahan farmers. They also held a gathering in Khorasgan Square in Isfahan on Monday.
According to reports, during Monday’s farmers’ protest, anti-riot units were present on the streets and in the protest routes, attempting to block the demonstrators’ movement.
The protests by Isfahan farmers intensified since last month’s Esfand. In one of these gatherings, protesting farmers turned their backs on the Friday prayers’ imam’s pulpit in his presence and chanted protest slogans.
Closed-door Parliamentary Session on Water Crisis
On Wednesday, the ministers of power and agriculture, along with the head of the environmental protection organization, attended a closed-door session of parliament to present a report on Iran’s water crisis, which has become a fundamental problem.
The spokesperson for parliament’s leadership board stated that in this session, a decision was made to establish a “National Water Scarcity Adaptation Working Group” headed by the vice president. In this session, the country’s water shortage crisis was reviewed, focusing on the Dez Dam problem.
Uncontrolled dam construction has been one of the recent controversies in Iran. Many believe that during Iran’s drought conditions, many dams have been built without detailed environmental studies.
Although there is a massive propaganda campaign within Iran encouraging people to consume less water, according to available statistics, 92 percent of water waste is related to the agricultural sector, which still uses traditional and flood irrigation methods for cultivation.
As summer approaches, many people have become concerned about ensuring drinking water supply for their homes. Hosseinali Haji Deligani, the representative of Shahin Shahr, Isfahan in parliament, stated that from Mordad month, five million Isfahan residents will have no drinking water. In contrast, Behrouz Nemati, spokesperson for parliament’s leadership board, told the Iranian News Agency (IRNA) that water rationing is not being considered in the country. In any case, the water crisis in Iran is an issue that is expanding day by day, and Iran’s central plateau and arid regions have an uncertain outlook.
Source: Voice of America
