Haft Tappeh Workers’ Protests Enter Second Month; Security Forces Arrest Four Workers

Reports indicate that on the thirtieth day of Haft Tappeh workers’ protests, four protesting workers were arrested by Shush Police Intelligence and Security forces.

The Haft Tappeh Sugar Cane Workers’ Syndicate announced on Tuesday, July 15th, through its Telegram channel that Youssef Bahmani, Muslim Cheshm Khavar, Ibrahim Abbasi Manjiri, and Mohammad Khaniferi are four workers who have been arrested by Shush Police Intelligence and Security forces.

According to this report, the arrested workers, after being transferred from Shush Police Awareness headquarters to the Shush District Court, were transferred to Fajr Prison in Dezful despite presenting payroll documents and release documents.

Previously, on Monday, July 14th, the Haft Tappeh Workers’ Syndicate had reported the arrest of Mir Mohammad Vali, a journalist who was present at the protests of this company’s workers, and stated that this journalist was arrested along with his colleague by Shush Police Intelligence and Security forces, with no information available about their condition so far.

This workers’ syndicate, while condemning the arrest of these workers, has called for their immediate and unconditional release.

As one month has passed since the Haft Tappeh workers’ protests, these workers say that after nearly four months into the year, they have only received one month of their wages.

Haft Tappeh workers continued their protests on Tuesday, July 15th, gathering in front of the Shush Governor’s Office, holding placards with their demands, and demonstrating once again, demanding swift attention to their labor demands.

Previously, Haft Tappeh Sugar Cane workers went on strike for 21 days in November 2018 in protest of unpaid overdue wages. The protesters believed that the private sector employer was incapable of managing the factory, and that the workers’ council could manage the Haft Tappeh sugar complex better than the employer.

While Iran faces an economic crisis and workers’ protests continue, Islamic Republic authorities have used security measures against professional protests, including Haft Tappeh workers’ protests in recent years.

The United States has repeatedly condemned Iran’s security-based approach toward workers. Previously, the U.S. State Department’s Persian-language Twitter account had announced in a post that “the Islamic Republic regime, with the money it has spent in Syria, could have paid workers’ wages in Iran.”

Source: Voice of America