Riot police brutally attack HEPCO workers in west Iran peaceful demo
Iran’s riot police brutally attacked workers of the Heavy Equipment Production Company (HEPCO) in the western city of Arak yesterday during a peaceful gathering.
Workers in today's HEPCO gathering in Arak, western #Iran Iran, attacked and beaten by the regime's security forces. 30 to 40 workers were detained while 15 were injured. This is a dying regime that can't even tolerate a workers' protest. #IranProtests for #IranRegimeChange
More images of injured HEPCO workers who were beaten by security forces today during today's peaceful demo.This is a disgrace! These are #Iranians workers who live in poverty when the regime squanders Iran's national wealth. International community MUST SPEAK OUT!
HEPCO workers were blocking the north-south railroad, protesting months of unpaid wages and the privatization of the company which has left the once productive company in shambles.
The workers also took to the streets and marched downtown. They were holding large banners asking authorities to settle issues regarding the company’s ownership and shareholders. They said that authorities had not kept their promises despite telling them around 10 days ago that they would resolve their demands.
Reports indicate that almost 30 workers were detained while 15 were injured after the attack.
The ILNA state-run News Agency covered the gathering but did not mention the riot police attack.
Despite yesterday’s brutal beatings, HEPCO workers gathered again today outside the company building. An image published from today’s gathering showed riot police standing at a distance ready to attack again.
Video of yesterday's attack on HEPCO workers protest in the W province of Arak, #Iran. The workers were demanding months of their delayed paychecks and have a right to protest. The regime must be held accountable for beating peaceful #IranProtest workers!
Despite being brutally attacked during yesterday's gathering, HEPCO workers gathered again today outside the company. Notice the riot police in the image trying to intimidate the workers. Kudos to the brave workers! Only way forward is #IranProtests!
HEPCO workers have in the past held many protests, namely in May 2018. There were also reports in October 2018 that 15 workers were sentenced to prison and lashes for their protests.
HEPCO, an Iranian company that produces road construction equipment in Iran and the Middle East, was privatized in 2017. Labor rights activists say that the plight of workers began right after the privatization.
Iran’s Free Trade Union said on its Telegram channel in 2018 that “8,000 workers used to work at the HEPCO industrial complex before its privatization. Now, only 1,000 of them are left.”
Iranian laborers who hold protest rallies and strikes demanding not only higher pay, but their unpaid wages, are prosecuted and were recently given hefty prison terms.
Most recently, seven activists were sentenced to up to 18 years of prison for links to protests by Haft Tappeh Sugarcane Factory workers in the southern city of Shush.
According to Amnesty International, “independent unions in Iran are banned, workers have few legal rights or protections, and union activists are regularly beaten, arrested, jailed and tortured.”
Iran’s Labor Code does not grant citizens the right to form independent unions, despite Iran’s ratification of the UN’s International Convention on Civil and Political Rights and membership in the International Labor Organization
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