Screen Grab from Twitter
Sun 06 October 2019:
Enraged people in a village in southwest Iran stormed the Friday Prayer Imam’s office, set it on fire, and attacked the Governor’s building.
At least 300 people, including children, are believed to have been infected with HIV in the province by a medical assistant using a contaminated syringe, furious people say.
Horrifying! Chenar Mahmoudi Village, Chaharmahal and Bakhtiari Province, SW #Iran: More than 250 ppl contracted HIV from needles used by the village’s hygiene org. to test 4 diabetes 2months ago. Video shows angry villagers protesting outside the governor’s office. #IranProtests pic.twitter.com/tCAA7qAA2o
— Iran News Wire (@IranNW) October 2, 2019
Based on the latest reports, protesters burned the health network facilities on Saturday, October 5. Local health clinics are run by the country’s health ministry.
People in the village of Chenar Mahmoud in the town of Lordegan, Chahar Mahal & Bakhtiari, maintain that their loved ones contracted HIV from contaminated needles used by the village’s health organization to test for diabetes two months ago.
The outbreak has also affected residents of the neighboring villages.
Oct 5 #IranProtests: Residents of Lordegan chant “Death to the dictator” & torch office of Supreme Leader’s representative after Iran’s health officials infect 300 ppl with HIV using contaminated syringes (Video via MEK)
CC: @SaraCarterDC @realDonaldTrump @SecPompeo @StateDept pic.twitter.com/nI5Cr9gJNQ
— M. Hanif Jazayeri (@HanifJazayeri) October 5, 2019
However, the local health authorities dismiss the allegation, pointing out that cases of HIV had been detected in the village weeks before the diabetes tests.
Footages circulated on social media show protesters chanting anti-Islamic Republic slogans.
A video published on Twitter shows people in Isfahan protesting in support of the victims and their demands.
#BreakingNews: Protesters in #Lordegan, SW #Iran chanting “death to dictator” while clashing with the rgm’s riot police. This comes after 200+ men,women, children were infected with HIV due to health clinic’s contaminated needles. #IranProtests pic.twitter.com/RWVZnRiGGG
— Iran News Wire (@IranNW) October 5, 2019
Meanwhile, the state-run Mehr news agency (MNA) reported that dozens of the villagers in Chenar Mahmoud assembled on Saturday outside the Governor’s office in Lordegan, demanding the judiciary to investigate the case.
“A limited number of ‘opportunists’ attempted to create disruption and sedition outside the Governor’s building, but failed,” MNA reported.
The protests initiated last Wednesday have gained momentum, and the security forces used tear gas to disperse angry people.
Remarkable footage: the revolt against the Islamic Republic is spreading across the country. Iranians are chanting “Without the Shah (King), there is no accountability!” Such calls for the monarchy are punishable by death.#Iran #IranProtests #Lordegan #لردگان #لردگان_تنها_نیست pic.twitter.com/pmxxSAwwq1
— Cameron Khansarinia (@khansarinia) October 5, 2019
“The people of Chenar Mahmoud are scared,” one villager told Iran Human Rights Monitor (IHRM), adding, “Many refrain from taking blood tests out of fear of finding out they have been infected. Every family of two or three has become inflicted with the virus. Anyone who has taken the test has turned out to be positive. And no one asks this regime, why do you need to test a nine-year-old kid for cholesterol and blood sugar and infect them with AIDS.”
In the meantime, a member of parliament’s Health Commission, Behrouz Bonyadi, said on Saturday that the commission is sending a delegation along with several other lawmakers to Lordegan to investigate the case.
Furthermore, in a letter to the Minister of Justice, the Islamic Republic Minister of Health has insisted that HIV was detected in the village “a long time ago,” but kept secret to respect the villagers’ honor.
Angry protesters attack health clinic in a village in #Lordegan #Iran responsible for contaminating 200+ villagers with HIV. They’re furious that the rgm has spread lies blaming addicts and extramarital relationships for the outbreak. #IranProtests pic.twitter.com/iHdckjrwJa
— Soheila Dashti (@Alicebahe) October 6, 2019
“The source of HIV outbreak was contaminated syringes used by drug addicts, as well as people who have ‘unacceptable relations,’ the Minister, Saeed Namaki asserted, adding, “We are going to treat people with HIV for free.”
But this assertion by the minister is bound to further anger the affected people and their relatives.
RFE/RL
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