On Wednesday, April 24, protests erupted across various cities in Iran, as workers and creditors voiced their grievances and demands for justice. From Shush in the southwest to Khorramabad in the west, and from Qazvin in the north to Mashhad in the northeast, Iranians from different sectors of society took to the streets to express their discontent with the authorities.
Shush, Southwest Iran: In a persistent show of defiance, employees of the “Pars Paper” factory in Shush continued their strike today. Gathering in front of the Shush governorate, they voiced their discontent over the dismissal of approximately 100 of their colleagues and the failure to address their demands. Despite previous negotiations with the county’s Supply Council, where they managed to reinstate about 100 expelled workers, they are still pressing for a change in employment status from contract-based to permanent and for job security.
Khorramabad, Western Iran: Meanwhile, creditors of the Tarh-e Abshar housing project, operated by the state-run Maskan-e Melli company, rallied in front of the Lorestan provincial governorate. They expressed frustration over prolonged delays in the construction and delivery of their homes, demanding immediate action from the authorities.
April 24—Khorramabad, western #Iran
Creditors of the Tarh-e Abshar housing project of the state-run Maskan-e Melli company rally in front of the Lorestan provincial governorate as the company continues to delay building and delivering their homes.#IranProtests pic.twitter.com/jwVG91iylm— People's Mojahedin Organization of Iran (PMOI/MEK) (@Mojahedineng) April 24, 2024
Qazvin, Northern Iran: In another part of the country, defrauded creditors of the state-backed carmaker Rezayat Khodro gathered outside the office of the Ministry of Justice in Qazvin. They vented their grievances over the loss of their investments and sought a resolution to their financial woes.
Mashhad, Northeast Iran: Meanwhile, pickup truck drivers in Mashhad staged a rally to protest against regulations adversely affecting their livelihoods and working conditions. Their demonstration underscores the widespread discontent among various sectors of the Iranian society.
April 24—Qazvin, northern #Iran
Protest rally by the defrauded creditors of the state-backed carmaker Rezayat Khodro in front of the office of Ministry of Justice.#IranProtests pic.twitter.com/yOJekMWz2H— People's Mojahedin Organization of Iran (PMOI/MEK) (@Mojahedineng) April 24, 2024
These protests reflect a growing trend of dissent across Iran, driven by grievances such as low wages, unpaid salaries and benefits, mass layoffs, and privatization. Citizens from diverse backgrounds are increasingly taking to the streets to demand accountability and justice from the authorities.
As tensions escalate, the Raisi government faces mounting pressure to address the underlying issues fueling these protests and to respond to the legitimate grievances of its citizens.
