26 MPs warn Rouhani for ignoring protests in Kurdish and Baluch border areas

A group of representatives from Kurdish border regions and Baluch representatives warned the Iranian Minister of Interior and President over what they called the government's indifference to the recent protests by people from border regions.

According to Iranian domestic news agencies, the reason for the reprimand by 27 members of parliament to the Minister of Interior and the President on Sunday, May 20, was "disregard for the widespread protests of the people of Kurdish and Baluch counties regarding the closure of border exchanges between the west and east of the country."

The government's restrictions on cross-border market transactions and businesses since the start of the new year have increased the cost of these transactions and rendered some activists in this sector unemployed.

Following the imposition of these restrictions, market vendors and workers working in border markets in some Kurdish cities in western Iran went on strike and stopped working. These border market workers set empty tables on several occasions in symbolic protest of the problems facing their businesses.

The protesters demanded the opening of border and kolbari crossings and protested against the increase in tariffs and costs, including shop rent and transportation fares.

However, as representatives of border cities in western and eastern Iran announced, the government has not paid attention to the demands of border market workers; therefore, 26 representatives have warned the Minister of Interior and the President.

In recent months, problems in border trade areas in the west of the country have led to many protests, and police shootings of kolbars have resulted in a number of deaths and injuries.

Source: Voice of America