69% Increase in Social, Labor, and Professional Protests

Hosseini Zolfaqari, the Deputy Minister of Security and Law Enforcement of the Ministry of Interior, stated on Sunday, December 21, that "social, labor, and professional protests in Iran have increased by 69% over the past three years." According to Tasnim News Agency, this official announced this during a report on the internal security situation over the past three years at the "Conference of Political Deputies of Iranian Provinces," adding that these protests "reflect the demands of the people." However, according to ILNA, he added: "Despite the 70% increase in social protests, including labor and professional protests, people have come forward easily and expressed their opinions, but we have not had any cases of social crises that turned into security issues." Additionally, according to ISNA, the Deputy Minister of Security and Law Enforcement said: "These protests have been well managed." These statements come amid reports of security and judicial crackdowns on labor protests in recent years. The latest example was the police's confrontation with hundreds of drivers from the Tehran Bus Company on December 14, who intended to gather in front of the Tehran Municipality building to protest the non-payment of their housing allowances. ILNA reported that these workers have been waiting for housing for years, and their negotiations and correspondence have not yielded results. These workers had previously gathered in August. Reports from the Tehran Bus Company Workers' Syndicate and the Free Workers' Union of Iran indicated that at least 17 drivers were detained by police for several hours, and some were beaten with batons. Hassan Saidi, one of the drivers who was beaten, confirmed the reports in an interview with Radio Farda on December 15, a day after the incident. This crackdown occurred despite Abdul Reza Rahmani Fazli, the Minister of Interior, stating in October 2013 that "crackdown is not an appropriate response to labor protests" and that "the voices of protesters in labor gatherings should be heard alongside those of industrial owners." The police's actions have drawn critical reactions. Alongside strong protests and criticisms from various labor organizations in Iran and globally regarding the beating of the Tehran Bus Company drivers, six members of the Islamic Consultative Assembly on Sunday admonished the Minister of Interior regarding the violent treatment of these workers. Furthermore, Mohsen Sarikh, the head of the Labor Fraction of the Tehran City Council, condemned the beating of the drivers on December 16 and apologized to them and their families. Meanwhile, according to ILNA, about 500 workers from the Polyacrylic Company in Isfahan intended to gather in front of the Isfahan Governorate on December 16 but were stopped on their way in front of the Mobarakeh Industrial Town and were not allowed to proceed further. This news agency did not specify which entity or force prevented the workers' march, stating that the Polyacrylic workers "have not received their wages for the past six months." The Free Workers' Union of Iran also reported that a nationwide gathering of employees and workers of the National Iranian Oil Company and their families in front of the Ministry of Oil in Tehran, scheduled for December 17, was canceled due to "security pressures." This gathering was intended to demand "an increase in monthly payments" and "the implementation of Article 10 of the Oil Ministry's duties and authorities for evaluating oil workers." According to the Ettehad website, belonging to the Free Workers' Union of Iran, following the approval of the Oil Ministry's duties and authorities law in March 2013 by the Islamic Consultative Assembly and its notification to the Minister of Oil in 2014 for implementation, the ministry has not implemented Article 10, leading to dissatisfaction among employees and workers of the National Iranian Oil Company. There have also been crackdowns on protesting workers in previous months and years. For instance, in May of this year, 17 dismissed workers from the Agh Dareh Gold Mine in West Azerbaijan Province were flogged by order of the judiciary. The backlash from this incident led to apologies from the government spokesman and the Minister of Cooperatives, Labor, and Social Welfare. In contrast, Gholamhossein Mohseni Ejei, the judiciary spokesperson, stated: "If we adhere to the law, it is in everyone's interest, and if a worker also violates the law, a framework should be established for that." Another crackdown occurred in Ahvaz, where, as a result of a labor protest by municipal service workers, 20 of them were detained for five days, and a judicial case was also opened against them. A few months ago, according to ILNA, a court in Yazd issued a suspended sentence for nine workers related to labor protests in 2014. These workers were sentenced to prison and flogging on charges such as "disturbing public order and tranquility"; however, their defense lawyer has appealed this ruling. Such crackdowns occur while Elham Aminzadeh, the assistant to the President for Citizen Rights, stated in September of this year to ILNA: "The security of pursuing labor demands within the framework of the law must be preserved."