Iran Narrows in on Repressing Farmers’ Protests as Water Crisis Spreads

May 21, 2021 | Center for Human Rights in Iran
View Original

Protests by hard-hit farmers over Iran’s worsening water crisis are being repressed by state security forces as officials increasingly describe the protests as a “national security” issue.

Environmental scientist Kaveh Madani explained in an interview with the Center for Human Rights in Iran (CHRI) that a major portion of the Iranian population “has become directly dependent on water for its livelihood,” and that protests will increase if the government does not provide alternatives for the losses of water-related jobs.