Continued Labor Protests by Haft Tappeh and Ahvaz Steel Workers Despite 'Threats'

The strike and protests of workers from Haft Tappeh Sugarcane Company and the National Industrial Group of Steel Iran in the cities of Shush and Ahvaz continued on Tuesday. This marked the 23rd day of protests by Haft Tappeh workers and the 18th day for the steel workers, occurring under the backdrop of threats from Sadegh Larijani, the head of the judiciary, who stated on Monday that 'using workers' demands as an excuse to disrupt the order of the country is unacceptable.' According to the state news agency IRNA, he mentioned that 'those who want to exploit the excuse of pursuing the demands of dear workers to disrupt the order of the country must be dealt with.' However, based on videos shared on social media, Haft Tappeh workers chanted during their protest on Tuesday: 'No threats, no prison - it's no longer effective.' The protesters also demanded the release of Ismail Bakshi, one of their representatives, who has been detained since Sunday, November 27, along with civil activist Sepideh Gholian. They chanted: 'They took Ismail - we are all Bakshi.' Regarding Mr. Bakshi's detention and his condition, Mostafa Nazari, the public prosecutor of Shush, stated on Tuesday that 'preliminary investigations on this detained individual are currently underway, and we are waiting for the results of the investigations; decisions will be made as soon as results are obtained.' This judicial official also commented on Ms. Gholian, saying: 'The case of the woman who was arrested during the Haft Tappeh protests is also in the preliminary investigation stage.' In response to the question of why other detainees from these protests have been released on bail while these two individuals remain in custody, he stated: 'I will not go into details. I am not the spokesperson for the judiciary. Until the case is clarified, we cannot disclose details. As long as a person has not been convicted, we will not disclose details.' During the protests and gatherings on Sunday, November 27, in Shush, 19 individuals were arrested by security forces, of which 17 were released last week on bail. Meanwhile, according to the Telegram channel of the Free Workers Union of Iran, the Haft Tappeh workers' march and gathering took place while they had received threatening calls from unknown numbers warning them that they would be arrested if they participated in the protests. The Haft Tappeh workers are demanding the transfer of ownership of the company to the workers under the management of a workers' council or to the government. They are also demanding the full payment of their overdue wages. So far, two months of the four months of overdue wages for Haft Tappeh workers have been paid, with plans for the remaining two months to be paid in January. Meanwhile, the government of Hassan Rouhani has opposed changing the ownership of this agricultural-industrial unit. The march and gathering of workers from the National Industrial Group of Steel Iran in Ahvaz were also reported. Videos shared on social media show hundreds of workers from the National Industrial Group of Steel Iran marching in the streets of Ahvaz on Tuesday. They criticized the government's performance during this march and gathering in front of the Khuzestan governor's office, chanting: 'No ruler, no government - they are not thinking of the nation' and 'Government, mafia - congratulations on your union.' In this regard, according to the state news agency IRNA, the number of protesting workers in this march and gathering was greater than in previous days, and they demanded accountability from officials and the resumption of production lines of the National Industrial Group of Steel Iran. Mohammad Dasht Bozorg, one of the workers at this industrial complex, told IRNA about the problems faced by the company: 'Today's situation is the result of mismanagements that have occurred in the past and present, and we believe this problem can only be solved by merging the National Group with Khuzestan Steel.' He added: 'The National Bank owns the National Group but pays no attention to our demands, and for this reason, some of the National Group's lines have gone out of production.' Reza Saadi, another protester, said: 'While other steel groups in the country are busy producing and selling their products, it is the National Industrial Group of Steel Iran that has taken its lines out of production and plays no role in production.' He added: 'Our demand as workers is not just for wages; we want to work to provide for our families.' According to reports, workers from the National Industrial Group of Steel Iran are demanding the resumption of production, the return of ownership of this complex from the National Bank to the government, and the full payment of their overdue wages. The CEO of this company announced on Tuesday that after selling the products of this complex, one and a half months of their three months of overdue wages will be paid. The government of Hassan Rouhani has opposed changing the ownership of this large industrial complex. According to IRNA, the National Bank, as the owner of the National Industrial Group of Steel Iran, does not consider managing the business its duty and emphasizes its transfer.