Police Arrests Workers Protesting in Front of Parliament
Police forces attacked a gathering of protesting workers in front of the parliament on the International Workers’ Day and arrested dozens of protesters. The protest was organized by the independent workers’ unions including the Tehran busing company (Vahed) syndicate.
According to social media reports, teacher, students, and retirees also participated in the protest and dozens were arrested including Reza Shahabi, Elham Salehi, Farhad Shaikhi, Hassan Saeedi, Vahid Fereydouni, Naser Mahramzadeh, Rasoul Taleb Moghaddam, Mohammad Ali Aslani, Asadollah Soleimani, and Kayvan Samimi.
After these arrests became publicized in social media, Reza Alikhani, the deputy of political affairs to the governor of Tehran emphasized that the protest was illegal, and “we did not receive any requests for a protest permit, and we have not issued any permits either.”
This official added: “This gathering is illegal, and it is the responsibility of the police to stop it and maintain the security.”
There was another assembly held with permit in front of the Workers’ House where members of parliament were present. That gathering was held in support of the Islamic Republic, and some demands of the workers were also mentioned.
In the gathering in front of the parliament, the protesters chanted “the government betrays, the parliament supports it”, “(there are) all these embezzlers around, (but) it is the worker who goes to prison”, “teachers, students, unity, unity”, “our pain is your pain, join us people”.