Hamshahri Newspaper: At Least 300 Arrested in Susangerd During Khuzestan Protests
Hamshahri newspaper confirmed in its report the arrest of at least 300 people solely in Susangerd during Khuzestan protests. The newspaper also stated in its report that the peaceful protests of the people turned violent with the entry of military forces and special units, while reporting the presence of at least 12,000 people in the protest gathering in Susangerd at a time when the governor of Khuzestan, in the initial days of the published videos from Susangerd protests, called them “fake” and claimed that no protests had taken place in this city. Although the exact number of hundreds of arrested during these protests remains unclear, HRANA reported yesterday by presenting the second list of those arrested in Khuzestan protests, and verified the identity of 361 of these citizens.
According to HRANA news agency, citing Hamshahri newspaper, at least 300 protesters were arrested during the recent protests in Susangerd city.
Based on this report; on the day after the first day of protests on July 15th, Qasem Soleimani Dashtaki, the governor of Khuzestan, denied everything and said: “Some are trying to incite people and spreading fake images of people’s protests in cyberspace.” He claimed: “No incidents or protests occurred in Khorramshahr and Susangerd cities, but clips related to the past are being circulated in cyberspace.” Subsequent events showed that the governor’s statements were incorrect.
As stated in the Hamshahri report based on 2018 statistics, approximately 300 professional and non-professional gatherings and sit-ins were held in Khuzestan province during that year, and it ranks first in the country in this regard. During these days, workers of Haft Tappeh sugarcane factory are protesting in the streets of Shush for non-payment of wages and the unresolved status of the factory owners’ foreclosure. All of this is strange given the province’s capabilities and opportunities for its people. As for the water issue, for more than 20 years, people have been hurt and protested in various ways but were not heard.
The protests remained peaceful until the fourth day in Susangerd and surrounding cities. People marched in the streets and chanted for water. Laleh Circle, which is one of the main squares of the city, was the destination of protesters every day. Finally, on the fourth day, when special police units entered the Susangerd area, who were non-local and unfamiliar with the region, the atmosphere changed. Until that day, no provincial or national official was willing to speak with the people. Police came to the square with the aim of ending the sit-in and confronted people with the question that given the peaceful nature of the protests, why did special units enter the city with force?
Based on this report, approximately 300 people were arrested only in Susangerd during these protests.
Although reports received from various cities across the country indicate the arrest of hundreds of citizens during these protests, despite limitations on the free circulation of information and the refusal of Iranian authorities to allow independent civil institutions to operate within the country, based on reliable information available and drawing on years of experience, HRANA has so far verified the identity of 361 citizens including 171 people in the first list and 190 citizens in the second list.
Source: HRANA
