News Headlines from February 25th to March 8, 2023
Today, March 8, is International Women’s Day, a day in the continuation of the revolution of “woman, life, freedom” in Iran. On the occasion of this day, 52 organizations of students, women’s rights activists and other social activists have called for nationwide protests, and various labor organizations and retirees have announced their support for this call.
In the statement of the protest organizing council of oil contract workers, it is stated: “For us workers and for all of us, March 8 is a day of litigation against these 44 years of crime and lawlessness and a day to put an end to this barbarism and slavery. Fortunately, as one of the signatories of the Charter of Minimum Demands of Trade Unions and Civil Organizations, we have spoken comprehensively and today, on the eve of March 8th, we declare with more emphasis that this charter is the flag of our struggle against so much inequalities and injustice in the society. March 8th is an opportunity to hold this flag higher and to immediately announce the full equality of women’s rights with men in all political, economic, social, cultural and family fields and the unconditional abolition of discriminatory laws and forms against sexual and gender affiliations and tendencies, which is part of our charter. We will not tolerate any discrimination and inequality, and any law that violates it should be cancelled.”
Free Them Now (FTN) wishes everyone happy International Women’s Day on March 8. The revolution of woman, life, freedom is going to wipe out the regime of sexual and criminal apartheid. One of the emphases of the FTN is the global boycott of the Islamic regime because of all its crimes.
– The Islamic Republic’s chemical attack on girls’ schools and its extension to some public places has fueled a wave of anger and protest among the people. During these poison gas attacks, two female students have lost their lives and many have been hospitalised, so far. The students’ families protested this obvious government crime and organized rallies in different cities. They expressed their anger and dismay with the slogan “We don’t want a child killing regime”. The Coordinating Council of Educators’ Trade Unions have called for national gatherings in Tehran for 7th of March. This call has received wide spread support from workers, teachers, students, and their families.
On March 7, at the call of the Coordinating Council of cultural Trade Union Organizations and the broad support of other labor and social institutions and students’ families, protest rallies were held in 36 cities in Tehran and other cities, and people chanted the slogans: down with child-killer regime, death to the dictator. They shouted their anger and hatred, death to Khamenei.
These gatherings were the strong response of the people to the terrorist chemical attacks of the government to intimidate the people and push back the revolution. During these protests, 6 teachers were arrested in Sanandaj, named Bahaddin Maleki, Veria Karimi, Mal_Fakourian, Jabbar Pakzad, Mukhtar Asadi and Abid Ahmadi, in Shiraz Muhammad Ali Zhamtokash and Gholmarza Kandazi, and in Karaj Rahman Abedini. The campaign for the release of imprisoned workers insists on the immediate and unconditional release of the arrested teachers and all political prisoners.
On March 7, social security pensioners in Ahvaz once again gathered and marched in protest against poverty and high prices. They chanted: “Our enemy is right here, they are lying, it is America”.
– On March 7, the petrochemical workers of Gachsaran went on strike in protest of not receiving 2 months’ wages and the safety of their workplace. These workers previously had a rally and strike in this regard on March 11.
The Islamic regime tried to intimidate the people with this crime and create confusion in the society, but people are standing with the slogan: Woman, Life, Freedom and insist on overthrowing this regime. The Islamic regime’s chemical attack on girl schools shows its barbaric and terrorist nature. The Islamic Republic must be isolated in the world because of all these crimes.
– March 6th), telecom retirees once again gathered in front of the telecommunication buildings in Tehran, Isfahan, Ahvaz, Tabriz, Karaj, Yazd, Sanandaj, Uromia, Kermanshah, Mashhad to protest against poverty and high prices. In these gatherings, retirees chanted: “Shout retirees, shout for your rights”. The previous gathering of these retirees was held on 27th of February in 14 cities, including Tehran, Hamadan, Ardabil, Bandar Abbas, Khorramabad, Kermanshah, Bandar Abbas, Isfahan, Mashhad, Arak, Kerman, Zanjan, Tabriz, Sanandaj. Pensioners chanted: “One less embezzlement, our problem will be solved.”
– On the 5th of March, social security pensioners once again gathered in the cities of Shush and Ahvaz and chanted protest slogans. In Ahvaz, protesting retirees started a march and their protest slogans echoed in the streets of the city. The social security pensioners had gathered in 14 cities on the 28th of February to protest their poor living conditions and the lack of response to their demands. The retirees chanted: “Inflation is a disaster for the people”, “Our salaries are in Rials, the expenses are in dollars”, “Raisi (president) shame on you, leave the country”.
– On March 5th, a group of disabled people once again gathered in front of the Program and Budget Organization to protest against the non-payment of their eight-month arrears.
Yasouj municipality workers gathered for the second day in front of the municipality office and the governorate of Kohlgiloye and Boyer Ahmed to protest their 9 to 12 months of unpaid wages.
On March 5th, workers working in government agencies, including workers in the Ministry of Energy, were in front of the parliament. Their protest was also about the high cost and low level of rights and insecurity.
– During February 26th and 27th, Yazd steel workers came to the street in large numbers and began a march and chanted slogans in protest against discrimination and poor living conditions and low level of salaries. In their march, the workers clapped and chanted: “A worker will die, he will not be humiliated”. This massive strike and march was reflected in the city and attracted the attention of the people.
– February 26, the workers of the Oil Products Distribution Company in Isfahan went on strike to protest their poor living conditions.
February 26, the workers of Yasouj municipality gathered in front of the municipality and demanded the payment of their unpaid wages for thirteen months.
February 26, social security retirees in several cities of Ahvaz, Shush, and Shushtar started gathering and marching in protest against the high prices of the poor and the government’s failure to respond to their demands against social security. The workers were chanting: “Liar president is the result of Hot Ko’s promise”, “Incompetent government, resignation, resignation”.
– February 26, Isfahan Steel pensioners gathered in front of the Steel Pension Fund building in protest of their poor living conditions and their unanswered demands.
February25th, workers of both day and night shifts in all sections of Isfahan steel company went on strike and gathered in the factory premises.