Iran: Protest by thousands of miners enters 12th day

               

 For the 12th day, thousands of miners and members of their families continued their protest in the central city of Bafgh demanding the release of detained workers.

The protest by the workers at Bafgh Iron Ore began on August 19 following the arrest of a number of workers for their role in a protest in May that lasted for 40 days.

The mine is located in the city of Bafgh in province of Yazd. The workers and their families form half of the population of the city.

In May protest, the worker wanted the plans for transferring 28.5 percent of the mine's share to private sector be cancelled and the profit from the shares be spent on improving the living conditions in the city.

Striking workers also had demanded the resignations of the mine's director and that workers receive job security guarantees.

The May strike ended when the governor of the province promised their demands would be met within 2 month.

The deadline has been reached while none of the workers demands have been met.

The protest by some 5,000 workers is one of the largest workers protest in recent years in Iran.