At Least 8 Protest Gatherings Held

According to Hrana news agency, the news organ of the Human Rights Activists Center in Iran, on Wednesday, December 17, 2020, a group of unemployed youth from Shahrvari village in Behbahan gathered in front of the engineering camp gate of Bid Boland 2 refinery to protest unemployment and lack of jobs.

The gathering occurred after approximately one and a half years of these young people waiting for employment and job creation. The Behbahan police commander had promised in yesterday’s gathering to hold a meeting with relevant officials for recruiting these youth in the workplace, on the condition they end their protests. However, the results of this meeting contradicted the promises made.

The meeting was held with the presence of refinery management and security chief, the Behbahan police commander, Behbahan’s people’s representative, and engineer Omidizadeh. It is said that each of the aforementioned officials personally hired individuals at Bid Boland 2 refinery in Behbahan without following legal procedures.

Workers’ Families Gathering in Shadegan

According to Hrana news agency, the news organ of the Human Rights Activists Center in Iran, on Wednesday, December 17, 2020, families of workers and retired workers from Shadegan city held a protest gathering against their poor living conditions, carrying signs with slogans.

One of the participants in this gathering addressed the officials, saying: “Officials only think about themselves and their children. So when will someone help the people? We cannot even afford to pay for our babies’ milk.”

Shareholders Gathering in Tehran

According to Farsi news agency, on Wednesday, December 17, 2020, a group of Mehr Bank of Economy shareholders held a protest gathering in front of the Judiciary building to object to the bank’s stock pricing.

One of the participants said: “Shareholders are protesting the merger process and asset valuation of the bank because they believe the determined price is far less than its actual value.”

Another protesting citizen stated: “The stock price that was set is 1400 tomans, and despite all this inflation and price increases, the value of this bank’s shares has not changed. While shares of similar banks have witnessed significant increases during this period. Additionally, this bank has been profitable based on banking financial statements, and there is no justification for setting a low price for its shares.”

Citizens’ Gathering Against Environmental Destructive Activities in Yazd

According to the Free Union of Workers of Iran, on Wednesday, December 17, 2020, a group of Kordabad residents in Yazd held a protest gathering in front of the Yazd Governor’s Office against environmentally destructive mining activities.

Residents of Kordabad village had previously expressed their protests regarding these development activities, which they consider harmful to the environment and nature of the region, and demanded prevention of destructive mining operations.

Babol University of Medical Sciences Students Gathering

According to the Free Union of Workers of Iran, on Wednesday, December 17, 2020, a group of students from Babol University of Medical Sciences held a protest gathering in the university campus against inappropriate educational conditions.

The protesting students expressed their main demands regarding the poor quality of online teaching by professors, the manner of conducting final exams, and the ineffectiveness of the university’s education department.

Literacy Movement Instructors’ Gathering in Khuzestan

According to Asr Jonub, on Wednesday, December 17, 2020, a number of literacy movement instructors from Khuzestan Province held a protest gathering in front of the Provincial Education Department building to protest the lack of attention to their demands.

Literacy movement instructors from 2013 onwards remain in uncertain employment status regarding their job situation.

The protesters present in this gathering, while chanting slogans such as “Retired force, sitting in our place” and “We gave our lives, we planted seeds of literacy,” demanded a change in their status and determination of their employment.

Azad University Students Gathering in Tehran

According to Mehr news agency, on Tuesday, December 16, 2020, a number of PhD students from Azad University held a protest gathering in front of the central organization of Azad University against a new circular regarding PhD thesis defense.

The students held placards reading: “Compensating for Azad University’s economic downturns and financial pressures from the pockets of graduate students,” “Why is Azad University not accountable to any institution or body,” and “The PhD defense circular should be revoked.”

It is said that part of this circular emphasizes that “all PhD students who have previously conducted their pre-defense but have not successfully completed their final defense by November 15 of the current year, their pre-defense will be considered ‘as if it never occurred’ and they are required to conduct pre-defense again according to the mentioned conditions.”

This is while some protesting students believe that if they have already conducted pre-defense or even have an accepted paper, why does the university invalidate it and say they must conduct pre-defense again.

In another section of this circular, it states: “If a student, by presenting one of the specified scientific achievements mentioned in this circular and its supplement, obtains more than five points, they can proceed to defense and account settlement without presenting a second paper.”

However, some students are also protesting this clause, saying that obtaining more than 5 points means a Q1 paper which is of a very high level, and those who even have Q2 papers are not allowed to conduct defense.

Khomeini Hospital Karaj Staff Gathering

According to Hrana news agency, the news organ of the Human Rights Activists Center in Iran, on Tuesday, December 16, 2020, a group of Khomeini Hospital Karaj staff held a protest gathering in the hospital premises.

The protesters present in this gathering, while chanting slogans such as “Promises and threats are enough, our table is empty,” “Our patience is over, God help us,” and “Such injustice, no nation has ever seen,” demanded payment of their outstanding salaries.