Although the merchants have gone on a strike because of raised taxes rather than a purely political motive, if the strike does continue it is likely that it will have a crippling effect on the Regime and will inadvertently help the pro-democracy movement in Iran.
According to various news reports from Iran Press News the merchants in the Tehran Market (Bazaar) are on their third (3rd) day of strike. The merchants started their strike in response to the increase in taxes and have continued the strike after a merchant was stabbed and died in the hospital by security forces yesterday afternoon.
According to these news reports between 80-100 merchants gathered in the area of “Sabzeh Meydan” and chanted slogans such as “death to dictator and death to this misleading government.” A number of young students also joined the protests. The protestors were surrounded by security forces and it looked like the security forces may attack the protestors at any moment.
At around 1:30pm most of the stores in the main sections of the Bazaar including gold/jewelry stores, fabric stores, carpet stores and stores selling bulk goods were closed.
The news of the strike of the Tehran Merchants is spreading to cities around Tehran and there is a possibility that they may join the strike.
Down with the Islamic Regime in Iran
Long Live Freedom in Iran
Sources:
[url=http://www.iranpressnews.com/source/079301.htm]http://www.iranpressnews.com/source/079301.htm[/url]
[url=http://www.iranpressnews.com/source/079286.htm]http://www.iranpressnews.com/source/079286.htm[/url]
Although the merchants have gone on a strike because of raised taxes rather than a purely political motive, if the strike does continue it is likely that it will have a crippling effect on the Regime and will inadvertently help the pro-democracy movement in Iran.
According to various news reports from Iran Press News the merchants in the Tehran Market (Bazaar) are on their third (3rd) day of strike. The merchants started their strike in response to the increase in taxes and have continued the strike after a merchant was stabbed and died in the hospital by security forces yesterday afternoon.
