Iranians voice support for nurses as protests escalate

Public outrage is mounting as nurses across Iran face arrests and intimidation for protesting against poor working conditions and unpaid wages.

Iranian citizens have sent messages to Iran International, rallying behind striking nurses and accusing the authorities of prioritizing repression over addressing the nurses’ legitimate grievances.

“The economy in Iran has become mafia-like, corrupt, and driven by nepotism. There are no longer any spoils to divide, and the government spends any revenue it has on militarization for its survival. This is the beginning of the end, and it will lead to the downfall of the Islamic Republic like other totalitarian regimes,” one audience member told Iran International in response to the ongoing situation.

The government owes nurses 75 trillion rials (approximately $117 million) in unpaid wages—a significant sum in a country where nurses earn just $200 a month. Meanwhile, Iranians voice frustration that the government continues to fund proxy groups such as Hezbollah in Lebanon.

Since August 5, nurses in 39 cities and approximately 70 hospitals across Iran have staged protests and strikes, demanding better pay and improved working conditions. These protests have spread to major cities like Tehran, Isfahan, Mashhad, and Ahvaz. Meanwhile, the state owes

Iranian authorities have cracked down on the protests, summoning numerous nurses to security agencies, arresting others, and issuing threats to stifle the movement.

On Sunday, the rights group Hengaw reported the arrest of 31-year-old nurse Pouria Esfandiari from Milad Hospital in Tehran for participating in the protests. Esfandiari has been denied contact with his family since his arrest last week.

One audience member likened the current nurses' strike to the early days of the Woman, Life, Freedom uprising, following the death of Mahsa Amini in police custody after her arrest for a hijab violation. First protests began near the hospital where she died and in a small town before the movement spread natiowide.

“Now, most of the country's hospitals have joined together and continue their protests, but because their protest is not like a revolutionary uprising in the streets, the authorities cannot easily assault them,” one audience member noted in a message to Iran International.

While security forces have not opened fire on protesters as they did during the "Woman, Life, Freedom" uprising—where at least 550 people were killed—the wave of arrests, including the case of Firouzeh Mojrian-Sharq, a protesting nurse who fell into a coma after being detained, is reminiscent of the brutal tactics used during the 2022 uprising.

Moreover, Iran International has received an outpouring of support for the nurses from citizens who remember their sacrifices during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Many have expressed anger in text, audio and video messages at how the authorities, instead of acknowledging the nurses’ contributions, have chosen to respond to their grievances with repression.

The Coordinating Council of Nurses' Protests issued a statement on Friday, urging nurses nationwide to stand firm and demand the release of detained colleagues. The council also called on artists, athletes, lawyers, and influential public figures to support the nurses and amplify their voices.

Despite the Iranian authority's efforts to quell the unrest, the protests continue to gain momentum. As public support for the nurses grows, the Islamic Republic faces increasing pressure to address the underlying issues rather than relying solely on repression. However, the sentiment among supporters is clear: the Islamic Republic views the protesting nurses as outsiders and deals with their demands through force rather than dialogue.