Asal Mohammadi among some 30 protesters arrested in Tehran
Iranian workers marked the International Workers’ Day by marches and protest gatherings in Tehran and 19 other cities. Some 30 participants, including women, were arrested in the protest outside the Labor Ministry in Tehran.
Iranian workers chanted:
Down with oppressors, hail to workers
Free all political prisoners
Workers, teachers, students, unite!
Parliament, Government, enough with deception of people
Our government is a disgrace
We will not vote since we have heard so many lies!
Worker dies but does not succumb
So much injustice
Workers, farmers, cry out and demand your right
Workers are oppressed and deprived of their rights
Workers are conscious and hate dictators
Imprisoned workers must be released
Enemy of workers is the government of plunderers
We can gain our rights only if we take to the streets
We have heard so many lies, we won’t vote
Our pain is your pain, people join us
Our enemy is right here, they lie when they say it is the U.S.
We will not relent until we gain our rights
Poverty line = 10 million; our salaries = 2 million
Despite suppressive measures, Iranian workers held protests in Tehran, Karaj, Mashhad, Tabriz, Kermanshah, Boroujerd, Arak, Bojnourd, Khorramabad, Ilam, Ahvaz, Rasht, Sari, Isfahan, Qazvin, Maragheh, Shush, Shahinshahr, Neyshabur, Sanandaj, and Qom.
Retirees, teachers and students accompanied Iranian workers in these protests.
The protest and march in Tehran was held across from the Labor Ministry. Advocate of workers’ rights, Asal Mohammadi, was among those arrested.
The clerical regime dispatched its repressive forces of the State Security Force, Intelligence Ministry and plainclothes agents to the protest venues to prevent their formation or continuation.
Workers clashed with security forces in some places. Dozens of workers were arrested in Tehran and Karaj.
