Hundreds of farmers in eastern Isfahan province in Iran have been protesting over the failure of government authorities to ensure their access to water for their crops. They’ve been fighting for over two decades for the government to release more water to the Zayandeh Rood River from dams upriver.
Farmers say that government mismanagement and diversion of the water to industry and a neighboring province have made the drought, the result of a long-term decline in rainfall, much worse. Since 2000 the river, which runs through the city of Isfahan — the third-largest in Iran — has been almost completely dry.
The latest round of daily protests began March 29, above, and grew larger by April 1.
For years the government has promised to solve the problem. “We heard only lies!” the farmers said. “They said it was a drought, but the mafia [a reference to corrupt government officials] and industries are getting their fill of our share.” This protest “is not just for water, it is a battle for justice, livelihood and survival.”