Oil Workers Go on Strike as Iran Cracks Down on Protesters in the Wake of Mahsa Amini’s Murder

Protests in Iran have entered their fourth week as women and youths lead the rally against an oppressive religious regime.

Oct 10, 2022
Oil Workers Go on Strike as Iran Cracks Down on Protesters in the Wake of Mahsa Amini's Murder

Protests in Iran have entered their fourth week as women and youths lead the rally against an oppressive religious regime.

With nearly 200 protesters dead in clashes with the state and global leaders putting pressure on the Iranian leadership to end things peacefully, the stakes are higher than ever.

And now, the protests have reached Iran's most vital industry – oil.

Oil Workers Go on Strike

Oil workers at an Iranian company on Monday went on strike, showing support to protesters with slogans such as, "Do not fear. We stand together” and “Death to the dictator.”

Iranian TV tried to describe the strike as a pay dispute between the company and workers, but Iran has a history of striking oil workers – and they've made a huge impact in the past.

In the 1979 Iranian Revolution, striking oil workers paralyzed the country's most vital export and drove the country to a virtual standstill. Their impact on protests cannot be overstated, and they provide a welcome ally for protesters in the street who are pushing through yet another week of attempts to overturn religious extremism at the heart of the Iranian leadership.

UK Sanctions ‘Morality Police’

Across the world, leaders are beginning to wake up to the plight of protesters and Iranian people as they continue their fight.

The United States stands with Iranian women and all the citizens of Iran who are inspiring the world with their bravery.

And in the United Kingdom, the country has taken the step of officially sanctioning Iran's "morality police."

The BBC reports, "The Foreign Office has now sanctioned the entire morality police force – as well as other key public figures.

They are banned from coming to the UK and any assets held here frozen."

The Foreign Office cites examples of forces using live ammunition against protesters as part of the reason for the official censure.

In the United States, President Joe Biden has released a statement from the White House about events in Iran: "I remain gravely concerned about reports of the intensifying violent crackdown on peaceful protestors in Iran, including students and women, who are demanding their equal rights and basic human dignity. They are calling for just and universal principles, which underpin the UN Charter and Universal Declaration of Human Rights. For decades, Iran’s regime has denied fundamental freedoms to its people and suppressed the aspirations of successive generations through intimidation, coercion, and violence. The United States stands with Iranian women and all the citizens of Iran who are inspiring the world with their bravery."

The statement continues, "The United States is making it easier for Iranians to access the Internet, including through facilitating greater access to secure, outside platforms and services. The United States is also holding accountable Iranian officials and entities, such as the Morality Police, that are responsible for employing violence to suppress civil society. This week, the United States will be imposing further costs on perpetrators of violence against peaceful protestors. We will continue holding Iranian officials accountable and supporting the rights of Iranians to protest freely."

However, direct aid remains elusive for the protesters even as they plead with global leaders to aid their cause.

Recap of Things So Far in Iran

But to understand why things are the way they are, it's important to take a step back and see the big picture.

Here's a brief recap of what has happened over the past month in Iran:

  • September 16: 22-year-old Mahsa Amini is arrested in Tehran by the morality police, and her family is told she will be taken to a facility for an hour of "reeducation." Amini is never seen alive again. While in police custody, Amini is brutally beaten and dies from repeated trauma to the head. Police say she suffered from an underlying health condition, suffered a heart attack, and slipped into a coma before dying – completely denying any responsibility.
  • Protests begin to spring up in Iran's major cities, mostly led by women and young people. Women burn their hijabs and cut their hair publicly in defiance of the country's authoritarian religious laws.
  • The government tries to crack down on protests, clashing violently with protesters in the street and leading to what some estimate could be around 200 or more deaths.
  • In order to stop the flow of information out of the country, Iranian officials limit internet connection across major cities.
  • September 23: 16-year-old Nika Shakarami is beaten to death by police and her body kept from family for an agonizing 10 days.
  • By early October, nearly every major city in Iran is beset by "flash protests" where people come together quickly and dissolve just as quickly, to avoid giving state police a chance to organize against them.
  • Protesters have added images and stories of their own loved ones who they say have been killed by morality forces over the years.

In Iran, the protests are more than just an attempt to dismantle a totalitarian regime: they're a literal life or death fight. Aside from the extremist laws clashing with the more freedom-loving youths in Iran, many young people don't see a future in their country if things continue the way they have been.

Even before the firestorm of protests, many young people would leave Iran at the first opportunity because they don't see a future in technology, advancement or other modern industries in a country which was once at the forefront.

Now, 4 weeks into the protests and nearly a month after Amini was killed, protesters are losing their fear and hardening their resolve – even as the Ayatollah and his forces try to squash the revolution.

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