The people of Ahwaz continue to suffer from poverty and deprivation, as the occupying regime of the Islamic Republic of Iran holds their livelihoods hostage. Despite Ahwaz\u2019s exceptional wealth in natural resources\u2014including vast oil and gas fields\u2014its people remain oppressed and impoverished.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Ahwaz spans approximately 370,000 square kilometers, making it larger than the entire Levant region (Syria, Jordan, Palestine, and Lebanon combined). It is the second-largest territory in the Arabian Gulf and is wealthier than many of its neighboring Gulf states. No country in the region matches Ahwaz\u2019s abundant water resources, alongside its fertile lands, which add to its vast oil and gas reserves. However, instead of benefiting from these resources, the Ahwazi people endure extreme hardship under occupation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Ahwaz\u2019s strategic location has made it a key site for Iran\u2019s nuclear reactors, including the well-known Bushehr nuclear reactor, which relies on Ahwaz\u2019s water. Additionally, Ahwaz hosts major ports, such as the city of Abadan, home to one of the world’s most significant ports and the second-largest oil refinery globally.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
If Ahwaz had not been occupied by the Shah and later by the clerical regime, it would have thrived as an independent economy with active trade relations with neighboring countries and a free-market system. This would have made it one of the wealthiest regions in the world. Instead, after nearly a century of occupation, the people of Ahwaz continue to suffer from systemic deprivation, poverty, and oppression.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Today, 80% of the Ahwazi population lives below the poverty line. According to economists working under the occupying regime, nearly 60% of Ahwazis are unable to obtain the minimum required calories for survival, leaving them in a state of persistent hunger. This worsening crisis is not accidental; rather, it is a deliberate outcome of the occupation, dating back to when the Shah and the clerics subjugated the Ahwazi people. This long-standing oppression has fueled waves of protests and uprisings against the regime\u2019s injustices.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Protests across Ahwaz are widespread, involving workers, teachers, retirees, government employees, and unemployed youth. Despite harsh weather conditions, they take to the streets daily, raising their voices against the systemic discrimination and oppression they endure.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
On January 9, 2025, Mohsen Khojasteh Mehr, the Deputy Minister of Oil under the occupying regime, faced strong resistance from Ahwazi youth while attempting to inaugurate the 14th Oil Equipment Manufacturing Exhibition in occupied Ahwaz. The intensity of the protests forced him to abandon the ceremony in a rushed and disorganized manner. His departure was so urgent that security had to bring a vehicle directly to his booth to escort him away from the exhibition grounds.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The youth protested at the oil exhibition out of sheer desperation, driven by extreme poverty and dire living conditions. The Ministry of Oil had ignored their plight and failed to engage in dialogue with them. Seizing the moment, the protesters used the exhibition\u2019s opening as an opportunity to make their voices heard, demanding employment opportunities and justice in hiring practices. Their struggle is a testament to the resilience of the Ahwazi people in the face of ongoing oppression.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Hossein Bouazar originates from Ahwaz and stands as a fervent champion for human rights. Deeply connected to his Ahwazi Arab heritage, his literary works illuminate the adversities faced by this community. An outspoken critic of the Iranian regime, Hossein bravely highlights the grave human rights violations inflicted upon the Ahwazi Arabs. Through his compelling narratives, he seeks to amplify international consciousness of the challenges the Ahwazi Arabs encounter. His prose resonates as a defiant call for a world that upholds the inherent rights of every individual, irrespective of their ethnic roots or background.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n Ahwazi Centre for Human Rights<\/strong><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" The people of Ahwaz continue to suffer from poverty and deprivation, as the occupying regime of the Islamic Republic of Iran holds their livelihoods hostage. Despite Ahwaz\u2019s exceptional wealth in natural resources\u2014including vast oil and gas fields\u2014its people remain oppressed and impoverished. Ahwaz spans approximately 370,000 square kilometers, making it larger than the entire Levant …<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":2253,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[2,3],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-4493","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-ahwaz","category-human-rights"],"yoast_head":"\n