At least two retirees arrested after protest gathering in Ahvaz

Reports circulating on social media indicate that at least two participants in the gathering of Social Security retirees and teachers in Ahvaz on Tuesday, April 30, were arrested by government agents of the Islamic Republic after the event concluded. Retiree organizations announced the names of the two detainees as Ahmad Nochian, a retired teacher, and Mohammadzaman Kamrava, a Social Security retiree. Some of these organizations also mentioned that Ahmad Nochian's wife was also arrested by the intelligence officers in Ahvaz. In this context, the Iranian Retirees Council stated that in addition to Ahmad Nochian and Mohammadzaman Kamrava, Maryam Zalaki, a retired teacher, was also arrested after the gathering in front of the Social Security office in Ahvaz by 'security forces accompanied by beatings.' This retiree organization pointed out that Social Security retirees and retired educators reiterated their demands that they have expressed multiple times through gatherings and discussions, and also chanted slogans against poverty, inflation, embezzlement, and the 'disastrous situation' of society. According to this report, the protesters also called for the release of imprisoned workers and teachers, as well as the release of Tomaj Salehi, a protesting rapper sentenced to death. Previously, a number of Social Security retirees in Ahvaz had gathered on Sunday, April 28, to protest the lack of attention to their demands and also called for the release of Tomaj Salehi. The protesters had chanted: 'Tomaj is a nation, free the nation' and 'Tomaj Salehi must be freed.' On the same Tuesday, according to retiree organizations, about 100 Social Security retirees gathered in front of the Social Security Organization in Sari. While commemorating International Workers' Day, they demanded the realization of their professional demands. The protesters chanted: 'Our wages are in rials - expenses are in dollars' and 'Our rights can only be obtained on the streets.' In recent years, many gatherings have been held by Social Security retirees, telecommunications workers, steel workers, and educators demanding wage increases, the implementation of equalization laws, access to effective insurance, and the presence of true representatives of retirees in pension funds.