Iran’s nationwide nurses’ strike, now in its thirteenth day, has spread to major cities like Mashhad, Isfahan, Shiraz, and Ahwaz, where nurses have taken to the streets in extreme heat to protest poor working conditions, low pay, and mandatory overtime. Despite the growing unrest, the Iranian regime and state-controlled media have remained silent, deliberately concealing the protests from the public. This media blackout is just one example of the regime’s long-standing practice of hiding any news of dissent, whether major or minor, to maintain control.
The situation is particularly dire for Iran’s Arab minorities, who are surrounded by severe hardships. In provinces like Khuzestan, where many Arabs reside, people face abysmal living conditions, including poor water quality, frequent electricity shortages, high unemployment rates, and a lack of basic services. The deteriorating conditions of healthcare staff only compound these issues, leaving Arab communities besieged from every angle. The ongoing nurses’ strike highlights how these communities are not just neglected but systematically marginalised, with their access to quality healthcare further compromised by the regime’s failures. Meanwhile, the regime’s refusal to address these issues publicly reflects its broader strategy of suppressing any form of opposition, no matter how justified or widespread.
“This situation demonstrates the broader governance patterns in authoritarian regimes, where maintaining control often takes precedence over public welfare, leading to significant social and economic challenges.”
A regime accustomed to such concealment cannot be trusted. For Iran’s Arab minorities, who are already struggling under the weight of poor living conditions, unreliable infrastructure, and a collapsing healthcare system, this lack of transparency only deepens their despair. Surrounded by hardship on all sides, they are left to face the consequences of a government that prioritises its image and power over the well-being of its people. The ongoing strategy of covering up protests, selling off the nation’s resources, and crushing any form of resistance reveals a regime deeply entrenched in deception, with little regard for the future of its citizens.
Retaj
20 August 2024
