The farmers of Isfahan province held the twelfth consecutive day of strikes and protests on Friday, gathering at the dried basin of Zayandeh Rud river. The latest round of protests began on November 8 with farmers gathering in front of the provincial water company and the regime’s state-run television. On November 9, the protesters transferred their rally to the river’s basin. Some farmers have set up tents in the area and are remaining at the protest scene day and night. The protests have been growing more intense and crowded in the past two weeks.
During this time, people of all walks of life have joined the farmers in their demonstrations against destructive government policies. On Friday, there were thousands of protesters at Zayandeh Rud.
The people were chanting, “The people of Isfahan will rather die than give in to disgrace,” “Where is our Zayandeh Rud,” “Zayandeh Rud is our undeniable right,” and “We will not go home until we get our water back.”
According to reports, the regime has cut off mobile internet access in the Pol-e Khaju district.
The farmers of Isfahan and other provinces have been regularly protesting the deteriorating conditions of the province’s farming industry and water shortages. Farming is among the key economic activities of Isfahan, and with irrigation water becoming more scarce, the livelihoods of millions of people in the province are endangered.
The regime’s policies and destructive projects, including the building of dams without regard to the province’s ecosystem, has resulted in severe ecological problems.
Mrs. Maryam Rajavi, the president-elect of the National Council of Resistance of Iran (NCRI), expressed solidarity with the farmers of Isfahan.
“The Isfahan farmers’ steadfastness and unity foils the clerical regime’s ploys. It calls on all toiling workers across Iran to join in their protests against the evil regime. With unity and solidarity, they can obtain their rights,” she said.
