Increase in Detained Drivers Concurrent with Judiciary Order to Crack Down on Strikers
The detention of striking truck drivers and truckers continues alongside a warning from the First Deputy of the Judiciary.
It appears that after arrests on Thursday in major cities, detentions have also begun in smaller towns. According to Mehr news agency, Mehdi Ghvidel, the prosecutor of Zarand, announced on Sunday, October 8, that 7 people who, according to him, were “inciting and threatening” drivers were arrested. He said that these seven people “are accused of inciting other drivers and threatening active drivers with the intention of intensifying and disrupting the passage and movement of trucks on the roads and highways of this county.”
Simultaneously, Mohsen Ajeei, the First Deputy of the Head of the Judiciary, said that action would be taken against individuals who, according to him, “at the instigation of enemies, are causing disruption in the transportation and goods transfer service sector.”
He mentioned the arrest of individuals who used stones and wooden sticks to prevent trucks from moving on the roads and stopped them.
These statements come as, concurrent with the detention of dozens of striking drivers and truck owners across the country, judicial authorities in various provinces, including Fars, have raised charges of “corruption on earth” (Efsad fi al-Arz) and “highway robbery” (Qeta’ al-Tarik) against the detainees.
It appears that the judicial system, by raising charges such as corruption on earth, is seeking to issue heavy sentences, including execution or lengthy imprisonments for the organizers of the widespread strike by drivers and truck owners.
This comes as truck drivers and truck owners, in two phases of nationwide strikes, have demanded fare increases commensurate with the severe increase in prices of spare parts and tires.
In videos released on social media from striking drivers, drivers stated that due to the sharp increase in tire prices, they can no longer afford to obtain tires and carry cargo.
In the first phase of the strike, which took place in June of this year, drivers demanded fare increases, reduction in commission rates, and the continuation of insurance fee subsidies, to which the government ultimately agreed to a relative increase in fares. However, the sharp increase in exchange rates, which resulted in the sudden rise in tire and spare parts prices, once again led to driver strikes.
These strikes have received support from international unions, including the International Transport Workers’ Federation, which supported the strike of truck owners and drivers. In recent days, other international supports for this strike have also been expressed.
The International Union of North American Freight Truck Drivers also supported striking Iranian truck owners in June of this year.
Source: Voice of America
