Iran: Thousands of People Protest the Environmental Catastrophe
- Saturday, 10 December 2016 17:53
NCRI - On Thursday December 8, thousands of people staged demonstration in South Western city of Ahvaz to protest the decision by Iranian regime’s officials to transfer the Karoon River’s water to Isfahan.
Protestors held placards demanding a halt to the project of Karoun’s water transfer and a solution to (addressing) the problem of dust (in the air) and other environmental problems. Some of the slogans written on the placards include: “Karoun’s death is death of Khuzestan” and “Karoun is our red line.”
The protestors called on the United Nations to intervene in order to stop this environmental catastrophe and violation of human rights in Ahvaz.
The repressive security forces and police fearing expansion of the people’s protests surrounded the demonstrators and monitored them closely.
Reports indicate that the government of Hassan Rouhani has issued a directive to the relevant ministries to transfer water of Karoun River.
According to legal organizations, the transfer would aggravate the situation and environmental problems in Khuzestan province.
The project of Karoun river water transfer would force thousands of villages and residents of other areas, particularly farmers, to migrate due to drought and lack of water supply to thousands of hectares of arable lands.
In addition, dust, mist and other air particles have increased respiratory diseases in the province in recent years, particularly among children and the elderly.
