Reportedly, more than 300 cities—nearly a fourth of all
municipalities—face water shortages and drought. Protests erupted in
southwestern Khuzestan province in mid-July and then spread to several other
provinces.
It is being said that water shortage was due to governmental
mismanagement and neglect. The riots that started from Khuzestan province have
now spread across various cities including Tehran, Karaj and Tabriz.
According to the western media, Iranian people are now
putting a spotlight not only on their unmet needs, but also their unfulfilled
aspirations for respect for human rights, rights to which individuals the world
over are entitled.
The Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) sent tens of
water tankers to the Dasht-e Azadegan area of Khuzestan, Brigadier General
Hassan Shahvarpour said. “Another group of tankers are on the way and will
help to address the people's water problem. Basij (volunteer forces) and the
IRGC, along with the provincial officials, are standing by people with all
their power,” he added.
President-elect Ebrahim Raisi expressed concern about
Khuzestan’s water crisis and pledged that his government would work to address
the problem. “In order not to waste time until the formation of the new
government, we convened this meeting to find operational solutions to solve the
problems of the province and to implement everything possible from now,” he
said in a special meeting on the issues of Khuzestan province.
The US State Department condemned Iran’s crackdown on
peaceful protests sparked by a water shortage. “We support the rights of
Iranians to peacefully assemble and express themselves, without fear of
violence and detention by security forces,” Spokesperson Ned Price said. Following
are the excerpts from his narrative.
We condemn the use of violence against peaceful protestors.
We support the rights of Iranians to peacefully assemble and
express themselves, without fear of violence and detention by security forces.
We are also monitoring reports of internet slowdowns in the region.
The Iranian people have a right to voice their frustrations
and hold their government accountable, but we have seen disturbing reports that
security forces fired on protesters, resulting in multiple deaths,
We urge the Iranian government to allow its citizens to
exercise their right to freedom of expression and to freely access information,
including via the Internet.
State Department Deputy Spokesperson Jalina Porter said
that the United States supports the rights of Iranians to voice their
frustrations and hold their government accountable. She said Washington was
closely following reports of internet shutdowns and use of deadly force by
security forces.
“We urge the Iranian government to allow its citizens to
exercise their universal rights of freedom of expression as well as freely
access information online,” she told reporters.
Michelle Bachelet, the UN High Commissioner for human
rights, called on Iran to address the water crisis and criticized the
crackdown on protests. “The impact of the devastating water crisis on life,
health and prosperity of the people of Khuzestan should be the focus of the
Government’s attention, not the protests carried out by people driven to
desperation by years of neglect,” she said.
“I am extremely concerned about the deaths and injuries that
have occurred over the past week, as well as the widespread arrests and
detention.” Bachelet also warned that “shooting and arresting people will
simply add to the anger and desperation.”
Amnesty International reported that security
forces had killed at least eight protesters and bystanders in seven different
cities since 15th July 15.
Using live ammunition against unarmed protesters posing no
imminent threat to life is a horrifying violation of the authorities’
obligation to protect human life.
Protesters in Iran who take to the streets to voice
legitimate economic and political grievances face a barrage of gunfire, tear
gas, and arrests,” said Diana Eltahawy, Deputy Director for the Middle East and
North Africa.
