On 19th November 2018, the 15th day of the Haft Tapeh sugar cane workers’ strike in Khuzestan province, masses of workers and people of the city of Shush marched through the city and chanted “Free imprisoned workers!” following the arrest of Ismail Bakhshi and other workers’ representatives of Haft Tapeh.
When the workers drove towards the governor’s office in Shush city to protest, they were cheered by the people. When they arrived at the assembly point, they were welcomed by many people who had been waiting there.
When the protest started with loud slogans of “Free imprisoned workers!”, more and more people joined the workers and their families.
The city’s merchants closed down their shops in solidarity with the striking workers and the protesters.
Workers, teachers and students held placards in support of the striking workers and called for the release of the arrested workers.
The masses of protesters chanted slogans against injustice, poverty, embezzlements, corruption and expressed their anger at the armed forces.
After the protest in front of the governor’s office, the people marched towards the judiciary where they demanded the release of the arrested workers.
At the same time as the protest in Shush, workers of the Steel National Group of Ahwaz gathered in front of the provincial governor’s office and chanted slogans calling for the release of the arrested workers of Haft Tapeh.
A worker gave a speech at the assembly, saying that they will continue their strike until the production lines restart, all of their unpaid wages are paid and all arrested Haft Tapeh workers are released. The protesting workers welcomed the statement.
A female teacher also delivered a speech to stress the solidarity of teachers with the workers of Haft Tapeh, Steel, HEPCO, Asalooyeh and others who face similar issues. She also highlighted the release of the arrested workers of Haft Tapeh.
A group of students from Allameh Tabatabai University in Tehran held a gathering and read out statements in support of Haft Tapeh workers.
A group of workers of Asaluyeh in Bushehr province published a video clip in support of the workers.
More than 200 worker activists signed a petition in support of the striking workers of Haft Tapeh and for the release of those who were arrested.
Tens of lawyers reiterated the rightfulness of the gathering of Haft Tapeh workers and their demands in an open letter. They also demanded solutions to the issues that the workers face.
A group of seasonal workers and immigrant workers of Damavand and sugar workers of Ahwaz expressed their solidarity with workers of Haft Tapeh.
A group of HEPCO workers held a banner that reads “We defend workers of Haft Tapeh” and shared it online.
The arrested are: Esmail Bakhshi, Mohamad Khanifar, Mohsen Armand, Pouya Pashmeh, Saeed Mansouri, Jalil Ahmadi, Azim Sorkheh, Mehdi Davoodi, Saeed Alkasir, Alizadeh, Omid Azadi, Seyed Hasan Fazeli, Samir Ahmadi, Slamat Nia, Emad Kasir, Mahmood Sadi, Khaled Tamimi and Sepideh Ghelyan (journalist). So far there are no news about the arrested.
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