Amnesty International Calls for the Release of Water Protesters in Khuzestan

Amnesty International has urged the Islamic Republic to release all those detained during protests in Khuzestan and to respect the people's right to access safe drinking water. In a statement published on July 6, the organization emphasized that the protests in Khuzestan were 'peaceful' and called on the Islamic Republic to refrain from 'harassment and torture' of detainees. Since early July, residents of various cities in Khuzestan, including Khorramshahr and Abadan, have taken to the streets in protest against the salinity and disruption of water supply. According to reports, on July 9, law enforcement used live ammunition and tear gas against protesters in Khorramshahr. Following the violence in Khuzestan, the judiciary-affiliated news agency, Mizan, reported on July 12 the arrest of 10 individuals and the 'identification' of 25 others in connection with the protests in Khorramshahr and Abadan. This news agency claimed to have 'identified' 35 individuals linked to the protests in Khuzestan, alleging they were 'instigators of calls for chaos and exploitation of public grievances.' On Friday, Amnesty International, while calling for the release of detainees, urged Iranian officials to conduct a thorough and impartial investigation into reports of security forces using force and firearms to disperse protesters. A few days after the protests turned violent in Khorramshahr, Iranian news agencies announced the 'experimental' operation of the Ghadir water supply project had begun. This project, which started in 2010, was reportedly expedited to less than 45 days due to severe protests from the residents of Khuzestan. Salinity and water shortages, extreme heat, power outages, along with dust storms, have posed serious challenges to daily life in Khuzestan cities. On July 6, the Hamshahri newspaper quoted the head of the Khuzestan Water Engineers Association reporting that two of the five rivers supplying water to Khuzestan had dried up. Hamidreza Khodabakhshi emphasized the need for changes in consumption patterns and water resource management, advocating for changes in crop patterns and preventing excessive agricultural expansion. In the same context, the Minister of Interior denied the death of a protester during the unrest in Khorramshahr, while the governor of Khorramshahr stated that the salinity of the water had been resolved and it is now sweet. Reports indicate that protests continue in some cities of Khuzestan province.