Category: News

At Least 100 Workers Laid Off in the Aq-Dareh Gold Mine Complex

Posted on by A MN
Labor and Guilds, News
Aq-Dareh, Aq-Dareh Gold mine complex, contracted workers, labor and guilds, mass layoffs, seasonal workers, Takab, Takab County, West Azerbaijan, West Azerbaijan Province, worker's rights, working conditions

Earlier this Monday, November 22, at least 100 workers were laid off in the mining sector of the Aq-Dareh Gold mine complex in Takab County in West Azerbaijan Province.

According to HRANA, the news agency of Human Rights Activists, quoting ILNA, many of these laid-off workers have over 15 years of experience. The employer has reportedly stated that the mass layoffs were necessary due to the reduced available work during winter months, but several workers claim that the weather is not yet cold enough to hinder their work.

Apart from these laid-off workers, 150 to 170  seasonal workers who have a temporary contract by late December have not received confirmation that they will get back to work in spring of next year.

Each year, as the workers in this report said, about 60% of workers get laid off and the remaining 200-220 are those who work in guarding, maintenance, equipping of machines and office work. Approaching winter each year, they face uncertainty over whether they will be among the laid off.

HRANA Recap: This Week’s Protests in Iran

Posted on by Editor
Freedom of Expression, Labor and Guilds, News
East Azerbaijan, Gilan, Golestan, Haft Tapeh Sugarcane Agro-Business, Haft Tappeh, Haft Tappeh Sigarcane Agro-Industry Company, Iran international General Contractor Company, Isfahan, Jam Country, Khuzestan, Ministry of Health, Shahrkhodro
According to HRANA, the news agency of Human Rights Activists, a number of protests took place this week in Iran, many of which were continuations of ongoing movements.  Read our recap below for details, photos, and videos from the demonstrations.

 

Saturday, November 13

A number of retirees of the airline company Homa assembled before Mehrabad Airport Central Office Building in Tehran. They also protested against the merger of Homa’s pension fund into the national pension fund.

“We have not yet fully earned the salary for September.” one of the protestors stated. “The retirees of Tehran have received 5 million tomans of the payment but the rest of the retirees have not received anything.”

In Isfahan, a number of farmers assembled in and marched through in the dried up stretches of the river Zayandeh-rud. This is the sixth day that they have protested to demand their water portion.

 

A group of contracted teachers and educators working in Neyshabur City protested in the building of the General Department of Education of Razavi Khorasan Province in Mashhad.

Reportedly, despite news that the contracted teachers will be recruited by the Ministry of Education in the cities of Neyshabur and Firouzeh, following a dispute between the local departments and the general department of the Ministry of Education on hours and wages, the supportive plan was cancelled.

 

A group of residents in a district in Izeh County in Khuzestan Province assembled in front of the government building to demand their rights. They claimed that a portion of their land has been confiscated by the Department of Natural Resources.

Sunday, November 14

 

A group of syndicate bus drivers of Tehran Bus Company assembled before the building of Government Employees’ Court and then marched towards the Judiciary Office in Tehran. As one of the protestors mentioned, they protested against delays in payment, not receiving uniforms and contractors who are shirking their responsibilities towards addressing workers’ issues.

Personnel of at least nine medical centers, belonging to the University of Medical Sciences and Health Services, assembled and protested against authorities’ failure to follow through on promises they have made.

Retirees of the Ministry of Agriculture Jihad assembled before the office of the President to demand that their housing issues be addressed. Reportedly, several years ago, they made down payments on apartments from a housing cooperative and then were never granted building permits.

A number of contracted teachers assembled in front of the government building in Qazvin City to protest against modifications in job contracts and irregular payments. Reportedly, these teachers primary complaints relate to the arbitrary determination of salaries. They stated that their monthly salary is just about 1.8 million tomans, which falls below the poverty line.

A number of retirees of the pension fund of Fulad Company assembled in front of the pension fund offices of various cities. They asked for the fortification of their pension to surpass the poverty line, closing the disparity in pension incomes, enforcing Article 96 of the Social Security Act, solving issues regarding supplementary insurance.

A group of sugarcane harvesting workers of Haft-Tappeh Company assembled and protested at the company premises. 150 fired sugarcane workers demanded to be hired again and work in other parts of the company.

Contracted service workers of Ahvaz Municipality assembled before the governorate building to ask to be recruited by the municipality rather than contractors.

For a seventh consecutive days, a group of farmers assembled in Isfahan and marched through the dried up stretches of the river Zayandeh-rud to demand their water portion. They spent the night in tents under the Khaju Bridge.

Monday, November 15

A number of Taxi drivers assembled and protested before the City Council Office in Kahnooj City in Kerman Province to protest against the newly announced fare rates. They said that they can hardly afford their living costs with such low rates.

Tuesday, November 16

Personnel of the drilling company Global Petro Tech Kish assembled in Ahvaz City to protest seven month delays in payments.

 

Earthquake victims of Bandar-Abbas villages assembled to protest against neglect of their issues.

 

A number of workers of Sanandaj Municipality assembled in front of the City Council Building to demand their unpaid wages.

Wednesday, November 17

 

Dozens of workers of the tire manufacturing factory Barez assembled at factory premises to protest against the gap in wages and benefits.

“Many times we asked company management to do something about discrimination in wages and address our poor job conditions,” one worker said. “Considering poor economic conditions of the county, there has been no increase in our wages despite the multiplying manufactured products’ prices.”

 

Personnel of Metro security in Karaj City went on a strike and assembled before the metro station and demanded that wage and insurance issues be addressed.

 

In Tabriz, for several consecutive days, the workers of the Iran Tractor Manufacturing Industrial Group went on a strike and assembled at their workplace. They protested against low wages and the lack of job security, and the failure to enact the promised changes in their contracts.

 

For the ninth consecutive day, farmers in Isfahan assembled and protested in the dried up stretches of the river Zayandeh-rud. They spent the night in tents under the Khaju Bridge.

 

A number of workers of the copper mining company “Dareh Zar Ruchun” assembled in Sirjan city.

They protested against the mismatch of working hours with wages, not implementing the Job Classification Act, low wages, the lack of job security.

Thursday, November 18

 

A number of workers of Railway Services & Technical Construction Engineering Company working in Metro Security assembled and blocked the railway and demanded their delayed payments.

For the tenth consecutive day, farmers assembled and protested in the dried up stretches of the river Zayandeh-rud in Isfahan to ask for their water supply.

 

Thousands Demonstrate Against Water Mismanagement in Isfahan

Posted on by A MN
Environment, News
Abas, Abas Moghtadai, Hossein Mirzaie, Isfahan, Khaju Bridge, Mirzaie, Zayndeh back, Zayndeh-rud

On Friday, November 19, thousands of citizens and farmers assembled and protested in the dried up stretches of the river Zayandeh-rud in Isfahan.

Since last Sunday, these farmers have been on a sit-down strike in protest of authorities’ ongoing mismanagement of the water supply. They ask for their water supply for the fall wheat planting and revival of the river Zayandeh-rud, most of which is now dry. Moreover, the lack of water crisis management has affected the living conditions of many farmers.

According to HRANA, the news agency of Human Rights Activists, thousands of citizens in Isfahan have been assembled in dried up stretches of the river Zayandeh-rud and near the Khaju Bridge. Reportedly, in this area, the internet connection is intentionally disrupted.

The protestors chanted, “Let Isfahan breath, give Zayndeh-rud back”, ” Zayndeh-rud is our inalienable right”, and “We won’t get back home, not until the water gets back to the river.”

Along with land subsidence and water shortage, the way the shortage has been handled has worsened the living conditions of about one hundred thousand farmers in eastern Isfahan.

The farmers have assembled to protest several times, but they have not received any proper response from authorities. Once in response to these issues, parliament member Hossein Mirzaie recommended “rain praying” as the only solution.

As a backlash, the farmers assembled at the office of parliament member Hossein Mirzaie and asked him to pray to see if it rains. “We are waiting for the MP to come here and do rain prayer,” the farmers stated. “We go here on sit-down strike until it rains.”

Earlier, parliament member Abas Moghtadai promised that, along with other Isfahan members of parliament, he would have a meeting with the president to address their issue. However, as of this writing, no report has been published on the holding of this meeting or its resolution.

Inmates in Women’s Ward of Kachooie Prison Face Poor Conditions

Posted on by A MN
News, Prisoners, Women
COVID, covid-19, female inmates, Inmates with children, Kachooie, Kachooie Prison, Karaj, Prison conditions, prison conditions in iran, quarantine ward, women's ward

Inmates in the Women’s Ward of Kachooie Prison in Karaj are being held in poor conditions, a new report reflects.

According to HRANA, the news agency of Human Rights Activists, the Women’s Ward is composed of one quarantine section, four salons, one corridor and one kitchen, and houses between 50 and 60 inmates.

Due to an inadequate heating system to warm the wards on increasingly-cold days, many inmates of this ward have gotten sick. Moreover, these inmates have to cope with many additional issues such as a shut-down kindergarten, shortages of bathroom and sanitary services, and a poorly-equipped food store.

This ward has only three toilets and one bathroom for the over 50 inmates. The shared kitchen is small and unsuitable. The food store fails to supply any foods and other requirements.

Some of the inmates are living with their little kids. For unknown reasons, the kindergarten of this ward has been closed.

Despite the inmates’ repeated complaints and demands that the heating system be fixed, the most urgent of these issues as the temperature drops, prison officials have not yet addressed the issue.

Fisher Shot Dead by Military Forces in Hoveyzeh

Posted on by A MN
News, Other
cross-border carrier, Hawizeh Marshes, Hoveyzeh County, Khuzestan, Khuzestan province, Kolbar, Sukhtbar

On Wednesday, November 17, a fisher was shot dead by military forces in Hoveyzeh County.

According to HRANA, the news agency of Human Rights Activists, 32-year-old Ahmad Savari, a resident of Rafi-Shahr in Khuzestan Province, was shot dead by military force while he was fishing in Hawizeh Marshes.

HRANA’s annual human rights report has specifically documented cases in which military forces’ use of live ammunition against citizens has led to their injury or death.

According to the 2020 report, 36 cross-border laborers (kolbars), 5 cross-border fuel carriers (sukhtbars) and 33 other citizens have been shot dead by military forces and border guards in the last year. In addition, 130 people have been injured of whom 109 are Kolbars, 5 are Sukhtbars, and 16 are citizens.

 

 

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Four Inmates Executed in Prisons in Shiraz, Rasht and Kerman

Posted on by A MN
Executions, News
Adel Abad, Adel-Abad Prison, Adelabad Prison, Baloch, Gholjai, Kerman, Kerman prison, Lakan, Lakan prison, Maarouf Gholipur, Secret executions, Shams-e-din Gholjai, Shiraz, Zahedan

Four inmates were recently executed in Adel-Abad Prison in Shiraz, Lakan Prison in Rasht and Kerman Prison.

On Thursday, November 18, two inmates who had been convicted of murder were executed in Lakan Prison in Rasht city, and another inmate who had previously been sentenced to death on drug-related charges was executed in Kerman Prison.

Additionally, last Sunday, November 14, an inmate who was previously convicted of murder was executed in Adel-Abad Prison in Shiraz City.

According to HRANA, the news agency of Human Rights Activists, quoting Iran Human Rights Organization, Mostafa Asadpur and Mojtaba Bagheri, 35 and 40 years old respectively, were executed in Lakan Prison in Rasht.

“The prison officials announced that the executions will be carried out next Saturday but they executed them today on Thursday,” the report quoted from an informed source.

The Baloch Activists Campaign reports that Shams-e-din Gholjai the resident of Zahden was executed in Zahedan Prison.

In another report, Maarouf Gholipur, who was 41 years old and a resident of Kazerun City, was executed in Adel-Abad Prison in Shiraz.

The most recent report of the Statistics and Publication Center of the Human Rights Activists in Iran (HRA) states that between October 8 of 2020 and October 9 of 2021, at least 266 citizens, three of whom were juvenile offenders, were executed and 90 citizens were sentenced to death.

As the report points out, Iran’s judicial authorities do not publicly announce over 82% of executions. These unreported executions are known as “secret executions” by human rights organizations.

None of these executions have been reported by official sources in Iran as of this writing.

Fifteen-Year-Old Kolbar Soroush Rahmani Commits Suicide After Mules Killed By Regime’s Military Forces

Posted on by A MN
Children, News, Other
cross-border carrier, Didban Iran, Hani Garmaleh, Hani Garmaleh Village, Kolbar, kolbar killed border forces, Paveh, Paveh County, Soroush Rahmani

On Wednesday, November 17, a 15-year-old kolbar (cross-border carrier) committed suicide by hanging after his mules were killed by regiment forces at the border.

According to HRANA, the news agency of Human Rights Activists, quoting Didban Iran News Agency, the boy has been identified as Soroush Rahmani, a resident of Hani Garmaleh village in Paveh County.

Reportedly, his house was held as collateral for bank debt. Rahmani had borrowed a small amount of money to buy mules to work as kolbar at border areas, so the regime’s killing of the mules effectively destroyed his livelihood.

HRANA’s annual human rights report has specifically documented cases in which military forces’ use of live ammunition against citizens has led to their injury or death. According to the 2020 report, other than material damages such as loss of pack animals due to road accidents, frost, or avalanche, 36 kolbars have been shot dead, and 109 have been injured by military forces and border guards.

 

Mohammad Nourizad Released From Evin Prison; Ali Nourizad Returned to the Greater Tehran Prison at End of Leave

Posted on by A MN
News, Prisoners
Ali Nourizad, Evin, Evin Prison, Greater Tehran Prison, Mohammad Hossein Aghasi, Mohammad Nourizad, Nourizad, tehran prison, Ukrainian airline

On Wednesday, November 17, civil activist Mohammad Nourizad was released from Evin Prison after being granted an early release order. The day before his release, his son Ali Nourizad returned to The Greater Tehran Prison at the end of his furlough.

According to HRANA, the news agency of Human Rights Activists, political prisoner Mohammad Nourizad was released from Evin Prison after obtaining an early release order. The day before, Nourizad’s lawyer, Mohammad Hossein Aghasi, tweeted that the Supervisory Judiciary of Evin Prison had informed him in a phone call that the prosecutor agreed to end the prison sentence.

It is worth mentioning that Nourizad suffers from myriad health conditions, including asthma, heart problems and unstable blood pressure. Earlier, in protest against not receiving medical treatment, during a family visitation, he wounded his face and stated, “Each day I make this wound deeper to make my death happen sooner if they want me dead.”

In an open statement from that time, UN human rights experts expressed their serious concern over his conditions in prison. “We are seriously concerned at the mistreatment of Mohammad Nourizad and his continued imprisonment for expressing his opinion,” the statement read. “Furthermore, his continued detention despite medical professionals finding he cannot stay in prison given his serious health condition, and the resulting denial of adequate medical care, may amount to torture and other forms of cruel, inhuman and degrading treatment.”

Mohammad Nourizad is a 63-year-old filmmaker, writer, director and journalist from Iran. He was considered an outspoken and religious journalist who in recent years became one of the active critics of the Islamic Republic. He has been arrested and imprisoned many times.

Mohammad’s son Ali Nourizad was arrested by security forces in Tehran in January 2020 for protesting a rally against the downing of a Ukrainian plane by the IRGC, and for expressing sympathy with the victims’ families.  He was released on bail a month later. The Tehran Revolutionary Court eventually sentenced him to 3 and a half years in prison. This sentence was upheld by the Tehran Court of Appeals. He has been serving out his sentence in Greater Tehran since October of last year.

One Worker Killed and Seven Injured Due to Unsafe Workplace Conditions

Posted on by A MN
Labor and Guilds
child workers, gas leak, Imam Jafar, IRIB, Karaj, Karaj city, Meybod, Meybod City, Meybod county, Meybod Industrial Zone, Rajai-Shahr, workplace safety

In two separate recent accidents, several child workers were injured and one worker was killed in unsafe work environments.

On Wednesday, November 17, in a workplace accident in Meybod City, seven workers, some of whom are underage, were injured due to gas poisoning. In another workplace accident in Rajai Shahr in Karaj, a worker was killed after falling off a wall in a construction pit.

According to HRANA, the news agency of Human Rights Activists, quoting IRIB News Agency, in an industrial zone in Meybod city, seven workers, several of whom are minors, were poisoned by a gas leak at their workplace and hospitalized.

“On Wednesday morning, seven people with symptoms of gas poisoning were transferred to the Hospital Imam Jafar by the emergence 115 of Meybod County “, the head of the Emergency Department of Meybod city commented. “These workers of a workhouse in Meybod Industrial zone, aged from 17 to 24 years old, have been hospitalized.”

According to IRNAN, the spokesperson of the fire department and the Municipal Safety Services of Karaj reported the death of a worker due to a non-standard excavation in a construction project.

“The emergency team reached the spot after three minutes and pulled the body out of the construction pit”, the spokesperson commented.

Iran ranks 102nd in workplace safety out of 189 countries.

 

 

Chia Agha-Beygpour Sentenced to Imprisonment, Fines and Flogging

Posted on by A MN
News, Prisoners
Bukan, Bukan City, Chia Agha-Beygpour, cruel punishment, flogging, inhumane punishments, lashes, Security forces

Recently, the Revolutionary Court of Bukan sentenced Bukan resident Chia Agha-Beygpour to one year and two months in prison, 70 lashes and paying a fine.

According to HRANA, the news agency of Human Rights Activists, quoting Kurdpa, Chia Agha-Beygpour was charged with “propaganda against the regime in favour of one of the opposition political parties”. He was denied access to an attorney and phone calls during his detention.

On July 29, 2021, security forces arrested and held him in a detention center at the disposal of the Ministry of Intelligence in Bukan. On September 6, he was released on bail until the end of legal proceedings.