Khuzestan palm growers protest water shortage and salinity in front of the Agricultural Jihad Organization
According to the Asr Junob News Network, a group of palm tree growers in Khuzestan gathered to protest problems such as water scarcity and salinity.
On Tuesday, August 9, a number of palm oil growers in Khuzestan entered the building of the Khuzestan Agricultural Jihad Organization after gathering in front of it, chanting slogans such as "Support, support our guild system" and "Life is our inalienable right," in protest of problems such as water scarcity and salinity, the loss of palm groves, and pricing policies.
These Khuzestan palm growers say that if 1400 is the year of removing obstacles, "why are we wandering?" and if it is the year of support, "why are we not supported?" and that intermediaries and brokers are always supported.
Over the past few weeks, protesters have held rallies in cities in Khuzestan province, including Susangerd, Ahvaz, and Mahshahr, to protest the water crisis and water transfer policies, as well as the inefficiency of officials.
The protests, which initially began as protests against the severe water shortage, escalated within just a few days as security forces clashed with the public, and protesters chanted slogans against the government. The protests were met with a deadly response from security forces, resulting in a number of arrests and the deaths and injuries of several others.
Following these protests, Hassan Rouhani said, "There is nothing wrong with protesting and criticizing within the framework of the law" and "people have the right to take to the streets," but he said that "the people of this province must be separated from those who chant incorrect slogans." The Khuzestan Public Prosecutor's Office and Islamic Revolution also issued a statement threatening the protesters with "decisive" confrontation and warning them to separate their ranks "from the ranks of the counter-revolution."
However, the scope of the protests went beyond Khuzestan. Protesters gathered in some other provinces of Iran, including Lorestan, Yazd, and Tehran, chanting slogans in support of the Khuzestan protesters.
As protests continue in various parts of Iran, Netblocks, an international internet monitoring organization, confirmed on Wednesday evening, July 20, that mobile internet service has been disrupted in various regions of Iran since the beginning of people's protests over water shortages in Khuzestan.
The Iranian people should be able to express their demands without fear of clashes with law enforcement or arbitrary arrest, U.S. State Department Deputy Spokesperson Jalina Porter told VOA Persian on Friday, August 2. She called on the Iranian government to allow citizens freedom of expression and access to the internet.
Many artists, athletes, and famous figures abroad also released messages supporting the protesters and their demands, as public protests against water shortages and other problems continued in southern cities and some other regions of Iran.
On the other hand, statements from inside and outside Iran, including statements from Queen Farah Pahlavi, Prince Reza Pahlavi, the Iranian Music House, a group of lawyers, and a statement from more than 90 cartoonists, showed the widespread wave of support from Iranians around the world for the people of Khuzestan protesting against the lack of water.
Amnesty International also published the names of eight people killed in the Khuzestan protests in a report and called on the Islamic Republic's authorities to stop using military weapons against protesters.
Source: Voice of America
