Security Charges Filed Against Workers of Aqdareh Mine in Takab with 6 Billion Rial Bail Set

On Wednesday, September 6, the Shargh news network reported that of the 32 detained workers from the Aqdareh mines in Takab, West Azerbaijan, following labor protests, 26 were released after posting bail of 600 million tomans, while 6 remain in Urmia prison facing security charges. These workers have been subjected to violent crackdowns by government forces since August 1, 2023, due to their demands for 'employment for local residents' in the mines, and are now facing accusations such as 'disruption of public order', 'acting against national security', and 'kidnapping'. Labor sources indicate that the wages for June and July of the workers from Aqdareh who participated in the month-long protest have not been paid, and some of the workers released on bail are also not allowed to work. Labor protests in the village of Aqdareh have been ongoing in recent years, primarily demanding 'permanent employment'. In one of the most notable incidents, protesting workers were fined and subjected to an 'unprecedented' flogging sentence following a complaint from their employer. The Hengaw Human Rights Organization reported on August 1, 2023, that around 50 men and women from the village of Aqdareh were arrested during a raid by government forces and special units. This mass arrest occurred after a gathering the day before by local residents protesting the lack of employment opportunities for locals in the Aqdareh gold mine. During that protest, at least three protesters named Nasser Bahramian, Hojjat Momenzadeh, and Armin Nikzad were severely injured and transferred to hospitals in Urmia and Zanjan. Following this, Reza Mozaffar, the police chief of Takab County, labeled the protesting villagers as 'disturbers of order and security' and cited 'holding an illegal gathering' as the reason for their arrest. Mehdi Taghizadeh, the public and revolutionary prosecutor of Takab, confirmed the arrest of the protesters, stating that a legal case has been opened against the offenders. The Aqdareh gold mine is considered the second-largest gold mine in Iran in terms of mineral reserves.