“For nearly four decades, workers — the low income and toiler class of Iran in general and Rojhelat in particular — under the shadow of the current regime, have been faced with the violation of their simplest of rights,” read a joint statement issued ahead of International Workers’ Day on May 1.
The parties point to the low income for Kurdish workers in Iran, claiming “capitalists,” factory owners, and IRGC commanders have “monopolized” all the resources and projects in Iran.
The Kurdistan Human Rights Network posted video on Twitter of a rally on Monday in front of a mosque in Baneh with the hashtags #Kolbars [porters], #Bazariyan [workers], and #StrikeInIran.
تصویری از تجمع امروز #کولبران و #بازاریان شهر #بانه در مقابل مسجد جامع این شهر.#StrikeInIran#اعتصاب_کردستان #روز_جهانی_کارگر pic.twitter.com/mQoPcrtQGg
— KurdistanHumanRights (@KurdistanHRN) April 30, 2018
“Any type of spurning and worker mobilization to change the imposed status quo is severely repressed,” the Kurdish parties stated.
They hailed Kurdish workers as relentlessly demanding their rights despite the repressive situation.
“The calendar of the struggle and strife of the justice-seeking movement in Kurdistan is full of workers protesting, challenging and strikes,” the statement adds.
“This year you are welcoming International Worker’s Day at a time when the border towns of Rojhelat have become the field of civilian protest and strikes by the poor and toilers of these cities,” the parties said to their followers.
Since unofficial border crossings between the KRG and Iran have been closed, and the Iranian government has restricted the work of Kolbars, border porters, a wave of protests in Kurdish cities of Iran have erupted.
Banah, Mariwan, Sardasht, Piranshar, Shino, Pawah and Jiwanro are some of the cities where Kurdish workers have protested.
“We are asking for years that you embrace your day of May 1 united,” the parties stated.
Kurdish parties from Iran have been meeting regularly in the Kurdistan Region in a bid to improve communication and coordination.
Some have resumed an armed guerrilla war against the IRGC forces in the mountainous border area between the Kurdistan Region and Iran.
Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamanei received workers on Monday in Tehran, where he thanked them, according to the country’s semi-official Tasnim News
President Hassan Rouhani inaugurated several factory work projects at the MAPNA Industrial group close to Iran on Sunday, according to Iran's ISNA news agency.
International Workers’ Day, also called Labour or May Day, recognizes and celebrates the efforts of the working classes around the world.
