Workers of the National Steel Group March for the Release of Their Colleagues in Ahvaz

Workers of the National Industrial Steel Group of Iran marched in the streets of Ahvaz on Saturday, March 3, demanding the release of their imprisoned colleagues. According to reports, about 10 workers were arrested at their homes by security forces on Thursday night and transferred to the central prison of Ahvaz. The order for these arrests was issued by the Ahvaz prosecutor's office. The reason for the arrests has not been disclosed, and judicial and law enforcement officials have not officially reacted to this issue. These arrests occurred three days after the Supreme Leader of the Islamic Republic delivered a speech regarding workers' demands. Ayatollah Ali Khamenei accused 'enemies' in this speech, which took place on January 5, of trying to create 'a recession or a lag from the workers or forcing the workers to do this.' Meanwhile, according to the Free Workers' Union of Iran, workers chanted during their march: 'Imprisoned workers must be freed,' 'Law enforcement, be alert, we are workers, not thugs,' 'We are workers. We want bread. We want medicine and treatment,' and 'We will stand, we will die. We will take our rights.' Another slogan from the protesting workers of the National Industrial Steel Group was: 'Thieves are outside, workers are in prison.' In this context, the Free Workers' Union of Iran, the Workers' Rights Defender Center, and the Association of Electrical and Metal Workers of Kermanshah condemned the arrest of several workers from the National Industrial Steel Group and called for their immediate release. On the other hand, Abolreza Mousavi, the private owner of this industrial complex, expressed his sadness and concern about the arrest of several workers on his Instagram page, hoping that the news of the arrests was not true. He also accused the employees of this group of harming themselves by halting production under the provocation of some individuals inside and outside the complex.