U.S. State Department and International Council of Nurses Express Concern Over Arrest of Protesting Nurses in Iran

The U.S. State Department and the International Council of Nurses (ICN) expressed concern over the "unjust detention and sentencing" of protesting nurses in Iran. In separate responses to Michael Lipin, a reporter for Voice of America, both the State Department and ICN called for the Iranian government to recognize peaceful protests. A spokesperson for the State Department stated that the department is closely monitoring the protests by nurses and healthcare staff in Iran and expressed concern over reports of the "unjust" detention and sentencing of many protesters involved in these peaceful demonstrations. Referring to the Iranian regime's history of violently suppressing peaceful protests, including heavy sentences for participants in the nationwide "Women, Life, Freedom" protests, the spokesperson described reports of the detention of protesting nurses as "worrisome." The spokesperson urged the Iranian regime to acknowledge the vital role of peaceful protests, including labor protests, in reflecting the concerns of workers. They characterized the widespread protests by workers in Iran as indicative of public dissatisfaction with the economic situation and "astronomical inflation" in recent years due to the "mismanagement and corruption of the regime," which has led to the emigration of many skilled workers from Iran and exacerbated the economic crisis. The International Council of Nurses also described reports of the detention of protesting nurses in Iran as "deeply concerning" and called for negotiations between protesters and authorities to reach a practical agreement. The ICN stated that the protests by Iranian nurses stem from their concerns for patients and nurses and viewed their strike as a sign of "insufficient investment in the health sector and its staff." The ICN emphasized that nurses have the right to protest "without fear of arrest or harassment" and that governments should find a fair solution to address the roots of their dissatisfaction. The ICN expressed solidarity with all nurses in Iran and urged the Iranian authorities to support nurses. Nurses and healthcare staff in public hospitals have intensified their protests and strikes since mid-August, emphasizing their professional and livelihood demands in at least 16 provinces of Iran. Reports indicate that several protesters have been arrested on charges of "disturbing the peace." According to Mohammad Sharifi-Moghadam, Secretary-General of the Nurses' House, "for the first time in the 100-year history of modern nursing in Iran, protests have taken the form of work stoppages." Ali Jafarian, former head of Tehran University of Medical Sciences, reported a widespread emigration of nurses to Germany, stating that in recent years, 30,000 faculty members from hospitals have emigrated. The wave of emigration from Iran is not limited to nurses and includes a wide range of students, workers, doctors, and specialists. Morteza Izadi, a university professor and economics expert, stated in an interview with the "Khabar Online" website that emigration has exacerbated "serious crises" in Iran's economy and predicted that the consequences will soon manifest in society and the economy. Protests by nurses and emergency personnel are ongoing in at least nine cities in Iran, with some protesters arrested in Bushehr. Protests and strikes by nurses continue in Iran, with protesters in Golestan shouting: "Nurse, shout out, demand your rights!" Support from Prince Reza Pahlavi for the nurses' protests: "Your rights are in the pockets of domestic rulers and foreign terrorists." Independent labor organizations supporting the nurses' strike have called for the "unity of workers, teachers, and nurses."