عربي English Türkçe اردو فارسى
Logo
Latest News
World

Thousands Rally in Central Iran to Protest Water Shortages

In this Tuesday, July 10, 2018 photo, the Zayandeh Rood river no longer runs under the 400-year-old Si-o-seh Pol bridge, named for its 33 arches, in Isfahan, Iran. (AP Photo/Vahid Salemi)
In this Tuesday, July 10, 2018 photo, the Zayandeh Rood river no longer runs under the 400-year-old Si-o-seh Pol bridge, named for its 33 arches, in Isfahan, Iran. (AP Photo/Vahid Salemi)
TT
TT

Thousands Rally in Central Iran to Protest Water Shortages

In this Tuesday, July 10, 2018 photo, the Zayandeh Rood river no longer runs under the 400-year-old Si-o-seh Pol bridge, named for its 33 arches, in Isfahan, Iran. (AP Photo/Vahid Salemi)
In this Tuesday, July 10, 2018 photo, the Zayandeh Rood river no longer runs under the 400-year-old Si-o-seh Pol bridge, named for its 33 arches, in Isfahan, Iran. (AP Photo/Vahid Salemi)

Thousands of farmers and their supporters gathered in the central Iranian city of Isfahan on Friday, state TV reported, in a major protest over water shortages in the drought-stricken region.

"Let Isfahan breathe again, revive Zayandeh Rud," chanted some of the demonstrators in a video posted on social media as crowds gathered in the dry bed of the river where protesting farmers have set up a tent city. "Our children want water to provide food for your children," read a sign carried by a woman.

Iran's energy minister apologized for the water shortages. "I apologize to all of our dear farmers, and I feel ashamed for not being able to provide the water needed for their crops. With God's help, I hope we can overcome these shortcomings in the next few months," Ali Akbar Mehrabian told state TV.

The farmers in Isfahan province have for years protested against the diversion of water from the Zayandeh Rud river to supply other areas, leaving their farms dry and threatening their livelihoods. A pipeline carrying water to Yazd province has been repeatedly damaged, according to Iranian media.

In July, street protests broke out over water shortages in the oil-producing southwestern province of Khuzestan, with the United Nations' human rights chief criticizing the fatal shooting of protesters. Iran rejected the criticism.

Iran has blamed its worst drought in 50 years for the water shortages while critics also point to mismanagement.

With an economy crippled by US sanctions, Iran has been the region's worst-hit country in the COVID-19 pandemic. The drought has forced Iran to import a record volume of wheat.

Most Viewed

 
 
World

South Korea’s Yoon Attends Impeachment Trial Over Bid to Impose Martial Law 

South Korea’s impeached President Yoon Suk Yeol attends the third hearing of his impeachment trial in connection to his short-lived imposition of martial law at the Constitutional Court in Seoul, South Korea, 21 January 2025. (EPA)
South Korea’s impeached President Yoon Suk Yeol attends the third hearing of his impeachment trial in connection to his short-lived imposition of martial law at the Constitutional Court in Seoul, South Korea, 21 January 2025. (EPA)
TT
TT

South Korea’s Yoon Attends Impeachment Trial Over Bid to Impose Martial Law 

South Korea’s impeached President Yoon Suk Yeol attends the third hearing of his impeachment trial in connection to his short-lived imposition of martial law at the Constitutional Court in Seoul, South Korea, 21 January 2025. (EPA)
South Korea’s impeached President Yoon Suk Yeol attends the third hearing of his impeachment trial in connection to his short-lived imposition of martial law at the Constitutional Court in Seoul, South Korea, 21 January 2025. (EPA)

South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol attended on Tuesday a Constitutional Court hearing of his impeachment trial where the detained leader may get a chance to argue his case or answer questions over his short-lived bid to impose martial law.

Near the start of the hearing, Yoon said he had worked in public service with "a firm commitment to free democracy", when invited by the acting chief justice, Moon Hyung-bae, to speak.

Dressed in a navy-colored suit with a burgundy tie, Yoon, a career prosecutor before his 2022 election as president, pledged to answer any questions the court might have.

Yoon has been incarcerated since last week under a separate criminal investigation into whether he led an insurrection by seeking to impose martial law in early December, which shocked the nation and was overturned within hours by parliament.

Before the hearing, his team of lawyers said in a statement Yoon intended to elaborate on his justification for declaring martial law on Dec. 3 and request through his lawyers a list of witnesses he wished to be called.

The Constitutional Court began the trial on Dec. 27 to review an impeachment motion that accused Yoon of violating his constitutional duty.

The judges will decide whether to remove him from office permanently or reinstate him.

Yoon may be questioned by Constitutional Court justices, a court spokesperson said on Tuesday.

Yoon's decision to attend the impeachment hearing contrasts with his vigorous resistance to criminal proceedings against him where he has refused to answer summons by investigators or attend interrogation sessions.

Yoon's legal team has denied he masterminded an insurrection, a crime in South Korea punishable by life imprisonment or even technically by the death penalty.

When oral arguments at the impeachment hearing began last week, lawyers for Yoon said the impeachment was a political attack against the president by opposition parties abusing their parliamentary majority and it had nothing to do with safeguarding constitutional order.

The main opposition Democratic Party, joined by minority parties and also 12 members of Yoon's People Power Party, voted with a two-thirds majority to impeach Yoon on Dec. 14.

Security has been heightened at the Constitutional Court in central Seoul, after a mob of angry Yoon supporters went on a rampage through the district court that issued a warrant to extend his detention early on Sunday.

Dozens of police buses were lined bumper-to-bumper on both sides of the street in front of the court to limit access to the premises hours before the start of the hearing.

Yoon was driven from the Seoul Detention Centre, where he is being held, in a correctional service vehicle escorted by a Presidential Security Service motorcade.