• Indian chess star withdraws from Iran event over headscarf rule
India: Chess star Soumya Swaminathan denied being part of the Chess Championship”Asian Team Chess Championship, to be held in Hamadan, Iran, from July 26 to August 4, because of the compulsory-headscarf rule in the country which she said violated her personal rights.
She took to her Facebook page to say, “I find the Iranian law of compulsory Headscarf to be in direct violation of my basic Human Rights including my right to freedom of expression, and right to freedom of thought, conscience and religion. It seems that under the present circumstances, the only way for me to protect my rights is not to go to Iran.”
She further said that the religious dress codes should not be imposed on players.
• Price Hike Gains New Momentum in Iran
The prices of gold and cars and the exchange rate for the U.S. dollar reached record highs on the Iranian market on June 11, while some social media users have complained about a new rise in the cost of housing in Tehran.
Each dollar was traded for 69,000 rials )Iran’s currency) on Tehran’s foreign exchange market on June 11, while buyers could purchase a dollar against 67,300 rials the previous day, traders reported on the messaging service Telegram.
The price of one standard gold coin was higher than 25 million rials on the Tehran market on June 11, marking a 4 million rial rise in comparison with the price last week.
The price of various models of cars has risen between 20 million and 400 million rials over the past 10 days.
• Attack and Arrest of Protesting Workers of Iran National Steel Industrial Group
Following the widespread arrest of the workers of the large industrial complex of Iran National Steel Industrial Group in Ahvaz, Iran that occurred last night at Kianpars Square and surrounding areas, where until now nearly 50 workers have been arrested; on Tuesday morning, June 12, 2018, the workers once again united in a queue and headed towards the Governorate of Khuzestan, and despite the very heavy presence of the repressive forces, they managed to gather in front of the Governorate and call for the immediate release of their detained colleagues.
• Strike of Merchants and Shop-Owners in Kermanshah, Iran
On Tuesday, June 12, 2018, the merchants and all shopkeepers at the Javanrud market went on strike and did not open their own shops in protest of the high prices and lack of costumers at the market in Javanrud, Kermanshah province in Iran.
• Workers of Kishwood Company Protest against Delayed Salary Payments
On Monday morning, June 11, 2018, workers at the Kishwood Company in Kish Island demanded for at least 14 months of their unpaid wages by holding a protest rally.
According to the protesting workers of the home furniture company, some of them have average wage arrears of 8 to 15 months, and two months of insurance premiums that have not been paid to the social security.
