Continued Protests by Workers of National Steel Group; 'Citizens, Be Aware, Ahvaz Has No Owner'

The Free Workers Union of Iran reported that workers of the National Industrial Steel Group of Iran continued their protests by marching in the streets of Ahvaz, demanding their labor rights. According to videos shared on social media, the protesting workers on Tuesday, June 21, chanted slogans such as: 'Citizens, be aware, Ahvaz has no owner.' They also criticized the Governor of Khuzestan and the representatives of this province in Parliament, demanding their rights. The protesting workers also chanted: 'Workers die but do not accept humiliation - Leave Syria and think about us - They don't pay wages, death to America - Our enemy is right here, they lie that it's America - Incompetent and indifferent governor and mayor - Incompetent governor, resign, resign - Citizens with dignity, support, support.' According to ILNA news agency, four thousand workers of this large industrial unit are demanding clarity on the company's ownership, payment of overdue wages, and resolution of supplementary insurance and social security issues. Reports indicate that wages for the months of Esfand (last month of the Persian calendar), Farvardin, and Ordibehesht (the first three months of the Persian calendar) have not been paid, and due to non-payment of insurance premiums, their medical insurance cards are not being renewed. The ownership status of the National Industrial Steel Group of Iran remains unclear. Officials from the Ministry of Cooperatives, Labor, and Social Welfare and the Khuzestan Governor's Office have spoken about the ownership being returned to the National Bank, but reports indicate that Abdolreza Mousavi, the private owner, and his managers are still present in the company. Meanwhile, a video shared on the Telegram channel of the Free Workers Union of Iran shows the police chief of Ahvaz warning the workers that 'the option of declaring bankruptcy and shutting down this unit and paying unemployment benefits to workers for two years is serious,' stating that a budget has been allocated to restart the group's operations. In this context, the Free Workers Union of Iran reported that during their march, workers moved towards the offices of three representatives from Ahvaz in Parliament, chanting 'We don't want incompetent representatives' and proceeded to break the windows of these offices and destroy equipment. They then moved towards the Khuzestan Governor's Office and gathered there, ending their protest at 2 PM. The new wave of protests by the workers of the National Industrial Steel Group of Iran reached its seventh day on Tuesday, during which reports indicated that seven of them were summoned to the security police in Ahvaz last week. However, according to the Free Workers Union of Iran, they stated that they would refrain from going to that office until they receive written summons. Previously, several workers from the National Industrial Steel Group of Iran had been arrested and released following protests by their colleagues. In recent months and years, several workers and labor activists have been summoned, dismissed, or arrested and imprisoned on security charges following labor protests. Meanwhile, security and judicial officials often remain silent about these reports. Such actions have drawn criticism from human rights organizations and international labor unions. Other reports from Iran indicate that several participants in this year's International Workers' Day ceremony in the city of Saqez were summoned and interrogated. Osman Ismaili, a labor activist in Saqez, wrote on his Facebook page that his son, daughter, and son-in-law were summoned to the news headquarters of the Ministry of Intelligence in this city on Sunday, June 20. According to this labor activist, during the interrogation of Arman and Ghazal Ismaili and Khabat Rahimi, they were asked about their motivation for participating in the International Workers' Day ceremony and for taking photos of the event. Agents from the Ministry of Intelligence also demanded that these three pledge not to participate in any future events like International Workers' Day or International Women's Day. However, this request was rejected by those summoned. Osman Ismaili also reported the summoning of Kaveh Hakimi, a bakery worker, and Ali Hosseini to the Saqez Intelligence Office and their interrogation on Saturday, June 19, and Sunday, June 20, due to their participation in the International Workers' Day ceremony in this city. Meanwhile, similar security and judicial actions against workers and labor activists have also been reported against other professional activists, including teachers' rights activists. In the latest instance, the Free Workers Union of Iran reported that Mousa Reza Jalili Jashnabad, a teacher and member of the Iranian Teachers' Union in Mashhad, was arrested at his home on Tuesday morning by several individuals who introduced themselves as agents of the Ministry of Intelligence. According to this report, after 'initial arrest and interrogations, he was introduced to the Revolutionary Court of Mashhad.' Currently, Mohammad Habibi, Mokhtar Asadi, Mahmoud Beheshti Langaroudi, and Ismail Abdi, four activists for teachers' rights, are imprisoned on security charges.