On Thursday Evening 15th June, Police forces have attacked and beaten up the protesting laid off workers and their families at Aq-Darreh Gold mine in Takab in West Azarbaijan Province and 13 villagers were injured. They were protesting against unemployment and the employment of non-residents of the village.
According to reports received by the Kurdistan Human Rights Network, On Thursday Evening, a number of villagers of Aq-Darreh of the city of Takab in the twentieth day of their sit the area of the mine, were attacked by police forces who beat protesters with batons. They were protesting against unemployment and “The lack of hiring Aboriginal workers”. At least 13 protesters were beaten including seasonal workers and women were injured.
One of the protesters in an interview with the Kurdistan Human Rights Network said while this area [Takab gold mine] is one of the richest sources of gold in the country, the inhabitants of the villages of Angrud, Aq-Darreh Oliya, Vasat and Sofla be hired limited and seasonal. The majority of official employment in mine are non-indigenous workers who employed through the government intermediaries and The share of the Kurds living in the area of the gold mine is only the sound of explosions and dust.
The protester described the behaviour of the police forces with protesters, ”ruthless and violent” on this issue. So that, the security forces were beaten protesters, both male and female, and middle aged and young.”
At the end, the source said, Although this protest ended with the police intervention and several were arrested and released after signing a commitment, we will continue our protest to meet our legitimate demands.
Takab gold mine, Iran’s second largest gold mine is Located 30 km from the city of Takab.
Pictures of the injured protesters in Aq-Darreh:
