On Sunday, September 22, widespread protests swept across multiple cities in Iran as various social and labor groups voiced their grievances over deteriorating economic conditions, government neglect, and the suppression of fundamental rights. From retirees and workers to disabled citizens and truck drivers, discontent echoed throughout the country.
In Kerman, coal miners’ retirees took to the streets to protest low pensions and poor working conditions, a demonstration that mirrors the growing frustration in Iran’s industrial sectors. Meanwhile, in Zahedan, heavy vehicle drivers gathered outside the governor’s office to protest the blocking of their fuel cards, essential for their livelihoods.
In Tehran, disabled citizens rallied outside the Budget and Planning Organization, demanding the implementation of Article 27 of the Disability Law, which has long been neglected. Similar protests by people with disabilities were held in Mashhad, Qom, and Kermanshah, where demonstrators carried signs like “Enough oppression, our tables are empty.” In Qom, firefighters also protested, reflecting dissatisfaction across various public service sectors.
Protests also occurred in Eslamabad and Bandar Mahshahr, where petrochemical workers rallied for better wages and working conditions. In Isfahan, steel and mining retirees gathered, chanting, “Neither the Parliament nor the government cares about the people,” a sentiment echoed by Social Security retirees in Ahvaz, Shush, and Kermanshah, where protesters chanted, “The outcome of the government’s work is the looting of the people’s pockets.”
#Firefighters in Qom protested for improved wages and working conditions. In Bandar Mahshahr, petrochemical workers demanded pay raises, calling out the government's failure to address worsening conditions. pic.twitter.com/P1ORkur3gr
— NCRI-FAC (@iran_policy) September 22, 2024
The protests were not confined to retirees and workers. In Kahnuj, 70 students from the village of Sharikabad boycotted school to protest poor infrastructure and lack of access to education, further emphasizing the deep-rooted inequalities across Iranian society.
On Sunday, alongside protests in various cities, ITC (telecom) retirees in Tabriz held a demonstration to protest poor pensions and unfulfilled promises regarding their benefits. The retirees demanded better living conditions, highlighting the government’s continued neglect of pensioners’ rights and failure to adjust pensions to meet rising inflation.
In tandem with these protests, news broke of the tragic death of Fardin Rostamnejad, a 35-year-old Kurdish freight carrier (kulbar) from Paveh, who succumbed to injuries sustained 18 months earlier from gunfire by the regime’s security forces at the Nowsud border. Rostamnejad had been shot in March 2023, resulting in paralysis. His death sparked renewed outrage against the regime’s brutal crackdown on marginalized laborers, particularly kulbars, who are often targeted by security forces. His four brothers have also been injured in similar incidents, highlighting the dangerous conditions faced by these impoverished laborers.
Telecom retirees in Tabriz protested unmet pension promises. In Shahrud, road workers rallied for rights. Shush, Kermanshah, and #Tehran saw more retirees demanding economic relief amid the crisis. pic.twitter.com/XbGMDIEnV0
— NCRI-FAC (@iran_policy) September 22, 2024
Additionally, the ongoing neglect of the disabled population, as highlighted by the protestors, has drawn widespread condemnation. Despite the passing of laws to protect their rights, the Iranian government continues to fail in implementing key provisions, such as increasing caregivers’ stipends, which has further fueled public anger. The government’s recent decision to cut benefits for 13,000 disabled individuals has only intensified these protests.
These protests reflect a growing wave of discontent across Iran, as economic hardships, government mismanagement, and human rights abuses continue to push citizens to the brink. With the regime’s failure to address these deep-seated issues, Iran is witnessing an unprecedented rise in social unrest, signaling the increasing fragility of the clerical rule.
