Khuzestan residents took to the streets on the evening of Thursday, July 15, in different cities and regions of the province to protest the destructive policies of the Islamic Republic in environmental matters and water supply to the region.

Drying up of Hour al Azim wetland and its main water source, the third longest river in Iran, Karkheh River, as well as “secret issuance of environmental permit for Beheshtabad project by the Environment Organization in spite of illegal procedures” to implement new projects of transferring Karun water, shortage of drinking water and thirst, frequent blackouts in the heat of July, are among the reasons why people in this province of Iran have provoked protests against the Islamic Republic and confrontation with the regime’s repressive forces.

Numerous videos and reports published by citizen journalists and civil activists on social media since yesterday evening indicate widespread protests throughout Khuzestan.

The regime cut off water to the poor residents of this region. In protest of frequent water cuts, people in Ahvaz, Abadan, Mahshahr, Bostan, Susangerd, Hamidiyeh, Shadegan, Malasani, Khorramshahr, Kut Abdullah, Qaleh Chenan and several other cities and regions of the province demonstrated and took it to the streets.

Citizen reports indicate that the police violently treated the protesting citizens. In some parts of the province, the armed regime forces have suppressed the protesting and thirsty people of Khuzestan by firing bullets.

In some areas, people blocked roads by burning car tires in order to prevent more oppressive forces reach the protesters from other cities.

According to HRANA, Human Rights Activists News Agency, during the protests in the cities of Khuzestan on the evening of Thursday, July 15, at least one Ahvaz resident named Reza Salamat, has been detained by the oppressive forces and transferred to an unknown location.

Translation of this post by Sahar.