Iran: Enraged Ahvaz locals take to streets against regime’s devastating flood policies

Iran, April 12, 2019 - Reports indicate that angry flood stricken locals in the southwestern city of Ahvaz took to the streets today in protest to the Iranian regime’s incompetence in dealing with the floods. According to videos published on social media locals in the Eyn-e Do region in western Ahvaz, in the oil rich province of Khuzestan, marched on the streets chanting, “they wanted to dishonor us but we will not be dishonored” in Arabic.
They were protesting the regime’s policy of opening dams directing water to their farmlands, villages and cities. Locals also say they don’t have facilities to make flood barriers. The protesters said that if the government refused to direct water to Hawizeh Marshes they would take matters in their own hands. Similar protests were also reported in the Shelang Abad region in Ahvaz. Reports indicate that the Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps has blocked water from the Hawizeh Marshes to protect its oil interests in the region and instead directs water to cities and villages. Also today, angry flood stricken Ahvaz residents verbally attacked a visiting senior IRGC officer. Videos showed locals surrounding Mohammad Reza Naqdi, a former commander of the infamous Bassij forces, yelling at him and chanting, “Khuzestan has been swept away by water while officials sleep”. The locals also chanted, “get lost” in Persian and “Ahvaz will be free” in Arabic while pushing Naqdi’s bodyguards and police. Although state-run news agencies like Tasnim boast that the Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps, Basij forces and other regime affiliated institutions are aiding flood victims in the worst hit areas of Iran, locals are furious and say that they have been abandoned by the government. Naser Saraj, the head of the country’s Inspection Organization recently said that “mistakes and man-made elements” had increased flood damages. Severe rain and floods have ravaged more than 27 provinces since May 17.