Iranians protested for the fifth consecutive night yesterday in the southwestern province of Khuzestan, as well as in the western province of Lorestan.
Despite the increase in anti-riot police and the crackdown on protesters on the fifth night, more people, including women, took part in the water protests. The cities of Dezful, Ramhormoz, Shushtar and Veys joined the protests on the fifth night. The locals in Khorramabad in the neighboring province of Lorestan also joined the water protests.
Jul 19 – Hamidiyeh, SW #Iran
Despite brutal suppression in the past few days, locals turned out again for the 5th consecutive day to demand water.
They blame the regime for diverting water from Khuzestan's Karun and Karkheh Rivers, drying them out. #IranProtests pic.twitter.com/VEVh7D6cUC— Iran News Wire (@IranNW) July 19, 2021
Jul 19 – Shadegan, SW #Iran
Locals in another city in Khuzestan Province took to the streets to demand water. They want the regime to stop diverting water from Khuzestan's Karun and Karkheh rivers. #IranProtests #خوزستان_تنها_نیست pic.twitter.com/gPzeeVRT1c— Iran News Wire (@IranNW) July 19, 2021
In the past five days, over 20 cities joined the water protests including Ahvaz, Abadan, Susangerd, Shadegan, Hoveizeh, Kut Abdollah, Mahshahr, Bostan, Mollasani, Abou Homeyzeh, Hamidiyeh, Shush, Hosseinabad, Kut-e Seyyed Naim, Khorramshahr, Kut-e Seyyed Naim, Malashie, Veys, Ramhormoz, Chamran, Dezful, Shushtar in Khuzestan, Khorramabad in Lorestan, and Mashhad in the northeastern province of Razavi Khorasan.
Protesters demanded water and created roadblocks by burning tires on the main roads. Crowds chanted for the Governor to resign in Susangerd. In Ahvaz, locals chanted “Karoun is our pride”, referring to the Karoun river, one of the main rivers in Khuzestan which has dried out.
In Chamran (Jarahi), riot police attacked protesters with tear gas. Gunshots are heard in the background of some videos. Riot police used brutal force to suppress the protesters. They tried to disperse the demonstrators with pepper sprays, tear gas, and shotgun shells.
Jul 19 – Hamidiyeh, SW #Iran
Despite brutal suppression in the past few days, locals turned out again for the 5th consecutive day to demand water.
They blame the regime for diverting water from Khuzestan's Karun and Karkheh Rivers, drying them out. #IranProtests pic.twitter.com/VEVh7D6cUC— Iran News Wire (@IranNW) July 19, 2021
Jul 19 – Ahvaz, SW #Iran
Protests tonight in the Koye Alavi neighborhood. Voice says riot police shot and injured some people tonight. There are reports of riot police attacking locals in other cities in Khuzestan Province. #IranProtests #خوزستان_تنها_نیست pic.twitter.com/7aOZYAvJIk— Iran News Wire (@IranNW) July 19, 2021
Iran’s oil-rich Khuzestan province
Iran’s oil-rich Khuzestan province is home to a large ethnic Arab population. Khuzestan is the hottest inhabited region in Iran and sometimes the world.
The water shortage protests are caused because of the drying up of the provinces’ two main rivers, the Karkheh and Karun Rivers.
Iranians blame the regimes’ policies for the severe water shortage. They believe the regime’s elites and the unelected Supreme Leader have deprived them of their basic living rights, including the recent water shortage.
Source » irannewswire