Iran: Authorities Arrest 31 Protesting Steelworkers in Ahvaz

This week, Iranian authorities raided the homes of dozens of protesting National Steel Group workers. The Iranian regime security forces have been raiding the homes of these workers since midnight, and arrests continued to noon on Monday.

This raid led to the arrest of at least 11 workers at the time of this report. According to Iran News Wire, the raid was carried out without any arrest warrant. The arrested workers were transferred to an unknown location. National Steel Group employees rallied for the 38th day, protesting delayed paychecks and five steelworkers who had been arrested.

five arrested steelworkers
Five Arrested Steelworkers

Demanding Release of Jailed Colleagues

The protestors demanded the release of their jailed colleagues. The agents failed to arrest more workers, because they were not in their homes.

Many of these workers had to be taken to the streets of Ahwaz until morning to prevent arrest.

Steelworkers strike in Ahvaz on Dec.16.2018
Steelworkers strike in Ahvaz on Dec.16.2018

28 Detained Steelworkers

The 28 detained steelworkers have now been identified.

1. Meisam Ali Ghanavati, 2. Esa Mar’ie, 3. Amin Alavani, 4. Morteza Akbarian, 5. Taregh Khalfi, 6. Massoud Efri, 7. Jafar Sobhani, 8. Mostafa Abiat, 9. Gharib Havizavi, 10. Hossein Davoudi, 11. Karim Siahi, 12. Hamed Baseri, 13. Hafez Kan’ani, 14. Hamed Judaki, 15. Kazem Heidari, 16. Yaser Ibrahimian, 17. Majid Janadeleh, 18. Kuroush Ismaieli, 19. Ali Oghaba, 20. Mohsen Balouti, 21. Mohammad Pour Hassan, 22. Mohsen Pehbati, 23. Seyed Habib Tabatabaie, 24. Jasem Roumazi, 25. Ali Etmami, 26. Seyed Ali Javadpour, 27 Javad Gholami, 28. Abdolreza Dasti

Reportedly, on Dec 17, in the early morning, a special unit along with the chief of the security forces of western Ahwaz entered the Iran National Steel Group and threatened to arrest the workers.

Protesting Steelworkers strike in Ahvaz on Dec.16.2018
Steelworkers strike in Ahvaz on Dec.16.2018

In an interview with ILNA News agency kasra Ghafoori director of National Steel Group confirmed the arrest of NSG workers on Sunday night. At the moment, Special Guard troops are deployed in front of the Governorate and Justice of Khuzestan, along with ambulances and spray machines, to prevent the formation of the workers gathering.

Protesting Steelworkers Video

Steelworkers strike in Ahvaz on Dec.17.2018
Steelworkers strike in Ahvaz on Dec.17.2018

Despite this brutal attack, the workers of the National Industrial Steel Group are determined to hold a protest rally today. They issued a statement, early Monday morning, demanding the release of their colleagues.

Hassan Mahmoudi

Hassan Mahmoudi is a human rights advocate and Social Media journalist seeking democracy for Iran and peace for the region.