Widespread Wave of Labour and Political Protests in Iran: From Prisons to the Streets
28-May-2025
Category: Labor and guilds، Prisoners، protesters
27 May 2025
News Categories: Protests – Prisoners – Workers and Guilds
Breathing in Confinement – Tuesday, 27 May 2025
Political Prisoners in 45 Prisons Go on Hunger Strike in the 70th Week of the “Tuesdays Against Execution” Campaign
In the 70th week of the “Tuesdays Against Execution” campaign, political prisoners in 45 prisons across Iran launched a hunger strike. At the same time, families of prisoners sentenced to death held gatherings in Tehran and Saqqez, demanding a halt to executions.
According to the Statistics Centre of Breathing in Confinement (the Prisoners’ Rights League in Iran), the hunger strike took place in the following prisons: Evin (Women’s Ward, Wards 4 and 8), Ghezel Hesar (Units 3 and 4), Central Karaj, Greater Tehran, Khorin Varamin, Choobindar Qazvin, Arak, Khorramabad, Yasuj, Asadabad Isfahan, Dastgerd Isfahan, Sheiban Ahvaz, Sepidar Ahvaz (Men’s and Women’s Wards), Nezam Shiraz, Adelabad Shiraz (Men’s and Women’s Wards), Zahedan (Women’s Ward), Borazjan, Ramhormoz, Behbahan, Bam, Kahnuj, Tabas, Mashhad, Gonbad-e Kavus, Qaemshahr, Rasht (Men’s and Women’s Wards), Rudsar, Haviq Talesh, Azbaram Lahijan, Dizelabad Kermanshah, Ardabil, Tabriz, Urmia, Salmas, Khoy, Naqadeh, Miandoab, Mahabad, Bukan, Saqqez, Baneh, Marivan, Sanandaj, Kamyaran, and Fardis Karaj.
The prisoners’ statement reads:
“It is entirely clear that every execution in Iran is politically motivated, not merely judicial. The accused are often victims of a corrupt and dysfunctional regime. In the absence of a fair trial process in the judicial and security systems, the executions serve only to instil fear in society and suppress public dissent. Therefore, silence is not the answer; we must raise our voices and rise against oppression and injustice.”
Nationwide Truckers’ Strike Continues in Over 120 Cities
Truck drivers have continued their nationwide strike for the sixth consecutive day across 125 cities. Their protest is driven by fuel quota shortages, low freight tariffs, rising costs of vehicles parts and services, and deteriorating living conditions. Supporting their cause, Nissan pickup drivers in Mashhad and Golpayegan have also joined the strike.
Reports have confirmed strikes in cities including Arak, Saqqez, Semnan, Gotvand, Mahidasht, Kermanshah, Ahar, Gonabad, Isfahan, Shiraz, Shahr-e Kord, Tehran, Fariman, Pardis, Mahallat, Nasim Shahr, Shahreza, Kamyaran, and Yazd.
Shipbuilding Workers Protest in Bandar Abbas
Workers at South Shipbuilding Company in Bandar Abbas staged a protest outside their workplace over four months of unpaid wages.
Landowners Protest Outside Parliament
A group of landowners from the Jihad Cooperative in Sohanak and Moradabad held a protest outside the Iranian parliament over the lack of construction permits after forty years. Their chants included:
“A forty-year-old case! – it’s a disgrace”
“We’ve reached our limit – lies won’t work anymore”
Sanitation Workers Protest in Shiraz
Sanitation workers in Shiraz gathered in front of the provincial governor’s office to protest authorities’ neglect of their professional demands. They called for the payment of insurance contributions, compensation for strenuous labour, and better working conditions, including reduced long working hours.