Tehran Bazaar goes on strike in protest to unprecedented tax hike
NCRI – Merchants at the Tehran Bazaar on Tuesday morning launched a general strike in protest to the clerical regime’s embezzlement and unprecedented tax increases for 2009, which have in some instances tripled.
Since early Tuesday morning, merchants in the main parts of the Bazaar closed their stores. These areas included the Abbas Abad Bazaar, Amir Kabir, Hajeb al-dowleh, Hosseini, Zeyd Bazaar, Pachnar Bazaar, Shoemakers Bazaar, Gold Sellers Bazaar, Fabric Sellers Bazaar, Hamam Chal Bazaar, Masjed Shah Bazar, among other areas. Regular laborers who transfer merchandise have also taken part in the strike.
Since 10:00 am local time, in fear of the spread of this act of protest, the regime’s suppressive forces attempted to end the strike and force the merchants to open their stores. But the merchants refused to do so and resisted the regime’s attempts.
Pressure from suppressive forces led to intense moments in some areas at Tehran’s Great Bazaar. They were particularly severe at Emamzadeh Zeyd Bazaar. The State Security Forces attempted to disperse crowds who had gathered to support the merchants. But, they were booed and ridiculed by people at the scene. Tense situation prevailed in Amir Kabir Bazaar and Hamam Chal.
The dictatorial regime in Iran is unable to resolve the multitude of crises engulfing it, including the economic downturn. It has, therefore, resorted to raising taxes to unprecedented levels in order to cover up its corruption and plunder of billions of dollars that have been spent on suppressive apparatus, export of terrorism and the nuclear weapons program and to prolong its dreadful rule.
Secretariat of the National Council of Resistance of Iran
July 7, 2010
