During a demonstration in Ahvaz (south) on 17 February against the government’s corrupt environmental policies that has resulted in sever sandstorms,police and Basij forces surrounded protesters. They tried to create a climate of fear to end the gathering by threatening to arrest everyone. However, brave Ahvazi women rallied between the repressive forces and the protesters, preventing security forces from attacking the demonstrators.
This gathering had begun from 10 February outside the provincial office in Ahvaz protesting the sandstorms. The immense amount of dust was 7 times the permitted standard rates, according to regime officials, and had reached a point that after three days of rain the conditions had yet to change.
