He says that in his opinion the main issue is dam construction. He is not aware of several existing dams on the Karun River for water control. In his opinion, this is “a kind of water storage and transfer.” The monthly magazine “Peace Line” in this issue, considering the recent protests in Khuzestan province and the issue of water and dam construction in this province, goes to Majid Ilhami, a long-standing political and civil activist in this province, to ask him about the policies he is trying to separate the people of Khuzestan from the rest of the people of Iran, dam construction and the transfer of water rights from Khuzestan to central provinces of Iran, and the historical injustice against these people from his home in Khuzestan, Iran.

Majid Ilhami emphasizes in a conversation with the peace line that “the worst kind of injustice is when the people of the province are not taken into account.” He says that the Karun River, which used to be a hub for shipping, has now turned into a seasonal river that has dried up. In a part of this conversation, he mentions a book called “Burnt Land” written by one of the elders about Sistan. When he gave me this book as a gift, he said that the future of your province in the absence of oil is Sistan.” Majid Ilhami stresses that if the issues in Khuzestan are not “completely addressed and managed, no development projects are implemented, unemployment is not taken seriously, and the people of Khuzestan are not recognized as part of Iran and do not participate, this situation is like a fire under the ashes and there is a possibility of it flaring up.”

You can read the transcript of the monthly peace talk with Majid Elhami, a civil and political activist from Khuzestan, below:

Khuzestan has always been one of the most water-rich provinces in Iran. What is the main reason that this region has ended up in its current state in the country today?

Based on maps and ancient records in Iran, Khuzestan province has been one of the important and water-rich centers in the waterless plateau of Iran. This province has been water-rich with five major rivers, namely Karun, Dez, Karkheh, Maroun, and Zohreh, which flow from Hindijan towards the Persian Gulf. On the other hand, the elevation of this province is low and by digging two or three meters, water can be reached. The land is also suitable in this province. However, the current situation of this province has various reasons. Dam construction has been present from the beginning and in the past regime, dams such as Shahid Abbaspour, Reza Shahi, Dez dam, and one or two other dams, were built to control the rivers. On the other hand, with the presence of mechanized agricultural industries such as sugar cane, water was diverted towards agriculture. But the most important issue that has caused the greatest impact

The issue of decreasing celestial descents due to weather changes is being discussed. The issue of damaged dams is also present. Sometimes these dams are damaged without any reason or study. Only five large dams exist on the Karun river that prevent water from reaching the lower part of the river. This is in the hot and desert region of Iran, closer to Ras al-Jadid. Nine months of the year, the sun shines on the center and south of Iran. This water reservoir behind the dams evaporates. This means we collect water behind the dams for it to evaporate. We do not use it efficiently. We do not even use it for electricity. If they want to take water for agriculture, they have to bring it down. Bringing water to the upper regions and central areas incurs heavy costs for water transfer. This is despite the presence of the central Zagros mountains and the high Bam mountain, which do not allow for this task. In fact, behind the dams, large lakes

We feel that there is a plan in place for Khuzestan to not thrive and for it to become an empty land for the extraction of underground resources. An example of this is the Karkeh Dam, where water does not flow towards downstream areas. One of these downstream areas is Hoor al-Azim. According to the Deputy of Environment for the President (Hassan Rouhani), orders were given to dry up the water in the region so that the Chinese can extract oil from this large free zone. This is because the Chinese do not have the technology to extract oil in marshy and watery areas. Because China is the only country that cooperates with us in this field and we do not have any relations with other countries like America and England, they caused Hoor al-Azim to dry up and the water to remain behind the dam. This means that both the natural situation, the human-made situation, and the intentions and goals have caused Khuzestan to

I was born and raised in the city of Ahvaz, and throughout my life, I have visited the Karun River once or twice daily. The Karun River used to be a route for shipping and transporting goods. At one point, it reached a depth of sixteen meters and had an abundant water supply. But now, it has reached a point where it has dried up to the bottom, losing its grandeur and becoming a seasonal river. On the other hand, the water in the river is mostly sewage and waste from sugar factories, which has a foul smell and causes various diseases. Most of it is also urban sewage that is returned to the river, and unfortunately, we think that the river has water. If you get close to the river now, you can smell the unpleasant odor. These are the reasons why Khuzestan has become waterless.

What time period do the problems we have in the field of dam construction and water issues in Khuzestan province that you mentioned date back to? Are these problems related to policies and actions in the past thirty or forty years after the eight-year war, or to policies before the revolution in the previous regime?

Before the revolution, there were also problems. After the coup against Dr. Mossadegh’s government in the years 32 and 33, it was decided that the Karun River should be directed towards the center of Iran. However, this issue was kept silent. After the establishment of the Isfahan Iron and Steel Company (in 1346), there were still hints and the first steps were taken to transfer water from the Koohrang tunnel to Isfahan and provide the necessary water for iron smelting. This matter remained silent until the February 57 revolution. It did not happen during the war either. This issue was brought up during the government of Mr. Hashemi Rafsanjani. Mr. Rafsanjani himself was from the central region of Iran and a waterless area, and on the other hand, his ministers, deputies, and government officials were also selected from these regions (Isfahan, Kerman, and Yazd). This combination

During the Rouhani era, this issue became both more practical and faster, and the problem of water scarcity in Khuzestan was highlighted during Mr. Rouhani’s time and has continued to this day.

“Sedimentation has defenders who speak of controlling water and floods. Do you think the problem in Khuzestan province is primarily due to sedimentation or the effectiveness of dams?”

Previous dams are in good condition and have been studied to some extent. But the Gotvand dam has been built without proper research. But in my opinion, the main issue is dam construction. Building multiple dams on a river does not solve the problem of water control. It is more like water storage and transfer. Is Karun River in Khuzestan Province being wasted in the same way? No. It was used for agriculture and other purposes. Is the purpose of transferring freshwater to central Iran for drinking or agriculture? If it is for agriculture, then it is a pointless task. It shows a lack of research. The war of the 21st century is a war over water.

“These dams, especially those built before the revolution, were constructed through careful study and planning by the deputy of planning. However, the dams built after the revolution were mostly a result of previous studies with the involvement of the opinions of interested parties, in order to benefit specific individuals and their ownerships. Post-revolution dam constructions generally cannot have economic justification. I asked, what are we going to do with the water behind the dam? Which major projects have been implemented for agriculture, industry, or water supply to large cities? The water that flows from Karun towards Isfahan’s steel mills, orchards, and some towards Yazd, does not reach the people. The protests in Isfahan and Yazd are also about this. These dams have no economic justification and are mostly a waste of national capital, both in the economic and construction sectors, and in their subsequent uses. The question is, should building a dam come at the cost of a province that was once a center of agriculture

Does it mean that in your opinion, these centuries have not helped improve the situation of the people in Khuzestan province?

I mentioned that some of these dams, such as the Dezful and Shahid Abbaspour dams, were able to control the waters that were flowing towards Khuzestan and causing floods. Now, I am not against building dams, but I say that they should be built in a way that does not cause water shortages in Khuzestan. Let the water rights of Khuzestan be respected. But how many dams does a river like Karun need? Similar and larger rivers in the world do not have this many dams. How many dams must be built on a river of this size and not allow water to reach the plains? Let them build dams, but let the water reach these people. Let the people not have to drink salty and polluted water. We in Khuzestan have to buy water. The water that comes through the pipes is even unusable for washing and cooking. It is both salty and polluted. Do the people of Khuzestan not have

Many environmental activists in Khuzestan consider the Gotvand Dam as a threat to agriculture and the environment in Khuzestan. In your opinion, who is responsible for the tragedy of the Gotvand Dam?

This dam had been studied before the revolution to be built. The consulting company that was managing and advising on the project had announced that according to the published documents, the dam should be built twenty kilometers higher than where it was currently being built. At the time when the plan for this dam was proposed, the plans for the three and four Karun dams had not yet been created. They wanted to use this dam to redirect the water that flows down from the Shahid Abbaspour and Old Masjed Soleiman dams towards the Shush and Shushtar region for agriculture and industry. Unfortunately, after the revolution, this dam was abandoned due to the construction of new dams. The beginning of the construction of all these dams was during the government of Mr. Rafsanjani and his ministers in charge of Iran’s infrastructure and economy.

But when the construction of the Gotvand Dam began, a power struggle arose between representatives and locals. The contractor for the Gotvand Dam was stationed at Khatam Al-Anbiya. There was a conflict between those who represented the government and parliament, the mountainous region, and the plain region. For example, if the dam was built towards the mountainous region, the power would be in the hands of the Lurs, and if it went towards Shush, it would benefit the Shush people. This was because all the resources for the dam would be with us. This was a local war. But the main issue was a plan that was given to the relevant ministries and commissions and was ruined by Khatam Al-Anbiya. They built the dam in a place where it shouldn’t have been built. It was like building a house on an unstable foundation. This local dispute led to the dam being built in the salt marsh region, meaning in a mountainous

The question that arises is why so many events are happening for the province of Khuzestan? What is the reason for it?

From ancient times and even during the reign of Reza Shah, the belief was that the province of Khuzestan would not develop. During the time of Reza Shah, the province of Khuzestan was under British control. The name of the central government existed in the province, but the administration was under the control of the British. In the contracts that existed at that time, which later in the government of Dr. Mohammad Mossadegh were not implemented, one of the parameters was that the Anglo-Iranian Oil Company should contribute to the development of the province. Urban planning, asphalt paving, and housing construction were all under the control of the British. From the time of Reza Shah to Mohammad Reza Shah and even during the government of Dr. Mohammad Mossadegh, the province of Khuzestan was not considered a part of Iran. Officially, it may have been called the province of Khuzestan, but the management and control were

During the nationalization of the oil industry and the government of Dr. Mohammad Mossadegh, Khuzestan province was viewed as a national asset and was considered part of the country. Development projects, especially during Mossadegh’s government, began in this province. One of the strong governors was appointed to this province during his government, who also participated in government meetings. This province was so important to Mossadegh’s government that it received special attention. After Mossadegh’s government, due to the central government’s control over this province, development projects were carried out. In the field of construction and industries, foreign companies provided consultations. This is why Khuzestan province was chosen as the best location for the sugar industry. In addition, due to the large number of foreigners in this province, the central government was forced to provide services to those who came for the oil company. One of these services was urban planning and the creation of industrial and recreational centers.

War is the destroyer of the Khuzestan province. During a time when the province was experiencing growth and prosperity, it suddenly became a battlefield in the face of the Western world. The highest standard of living among all provinces in the country belonged to Khuzestan, but now it has become a war zone. People were evacuated and either went to the eastern part of the province or left the province altogether, scattering to different parts of Iran. The war even reached the city of Ahvaz. This situation prevented any development projects from being implemented in the province during the war. This trend continued until the end of the war. When the war was over, it was revealed in a letter published by Mr. Ahmadinejad that a plan had been approved by the National Security Council, which focused on the central part of the country and neglected any development projects for the western and southwestern regions of the province. The eastern part of the province did not have the potential for development. However, this

During Mr. Khatami’s administration, a letter was received with the signature of his office manager, Mr. Abtahi, and Ahmadinejad brought it up during a trip to the province. The letter proposed a mass migration of people from other parts of the country to Khuzestan province in order to change the population structure. In Khuzestan province, besides Arabs, there are other ethnic groups who are closer to the central government and have a Pan-Arabic perspective. Therefore, this change in population structure was not for the entire province, but specifically for the Arab population. This plan was also present during the reign of Reza Shah, who wanted to relocate Arabs from this region to central areas. Relocation is different from migration. Migration is a person’s own choice, but relocation is a forced and pressured migration that does not provide any resources and forces the individual to migrate. This situation has existed since the time of Reza Shah. After the revolution, it

Which two million?

Two million people from central areas and other parts of Iran. They are being directed to the Khuzestan region and bringing about changes in its structure. We have seen the signs of this. We have seen these signs since the time of Mr. Khatami and the end of the Rafsanjani government. We have seen a large population of our compatriots from regions such as Azerbaijan, central regions like Isfahan and Fars, and even from Khorasan, coming towards Khuzestan. We have seen in official employment of companies and governments that they do not employ the local people and youth who are unemployed in the region. Instead, they hire people from outside the province, thousands of kilometers away. In creating free jobs and workshops and factories that are established in this province, they provide suitable facilities for non-native individuals. But for the local people, it becomes difficult to find work. The majority of contractors in Khuzestan are not from Khuzest

This situation has arisen in the province where, in addition to not having any development projects, there are also obstacles that can eradicate these people. One of the greats wrote a book about Sistan called “The Scorched Earth”. When he gave me this book as a gift, he said that the future of your province in the absence of oil is Sistan. This means that these predictions can also come true. It means that we only have life in this province as long as there is oil. It means that there is a lack of development projects and attention to the population in this province.

In the past hundred years, when a province named Khuzestan was established in administrative relations, except for one or two individuals, all selected governors were non-native. These non-natives, except for a very small number, were weak and incompetent governors. They either had their focus on areas that they were personally connected to, or they mostly came from Isfahan. Even when they choose a native governor, they don’t choose a skilled, knowledgeable and capable person, but instead they choose the weakest person who shouldn’t even be selected as a provincial employee, and with the governor’s lobbying, they bring the province to destruction after years.

What are the main causes of the widespread public protests in Khuzestan today?

These protests are mostly due to the same issues that I have mentioned. These protests are not just about the clock, but rather they are accumulated issues. Many times, through peaceful means, through the media, writings, and communications with some of the managers, it has been stated that Khuzestan province is in need of comprehensive and strong management. Around 83, I wrote an article that was published in one of the local publications, titled “Unemployment and the Security of the Province.” In it, I mentioned that unemployment among the youth in the province has grown to the point where it has become a factor in the lack of security in the province. The editor-in-chief of that magazine was asked why this article was published and written! When unemployment reaches a high level, insecurity and crime arise. On the other hand, when you cut off the water and destroy the agriculture of the people, and their livelihoods, especially those living around the marshes and rivers who are farmers, these

What do you know about the worst injustice against Khuzestan?

“The worst kind of oppression is when the people of a province are not counted. This issue exists among both government officials and opposition groups. The fact that we do not have Arabic-speaking people here is insulting to them. These people are Arabs. They are originally Arabs. They belong to the Arab ethnicity. The division of human race into nationalities, tribes, and clans is not the best approach. The best approach today is the approach of citizenship. Unfortunately, due to all the injustices and lack of development in the overall approach of the country, we have not yet reached a point where all people are recognized and referred to as citizens. That is why people are still stuck in their ethnic and tribal identities. Therefore, when you call them Arabic-speaking people, you are insulting them. This is also a form of segregation. Many times, in the media, when they wanted to show the gathering of Iranian people, they did not include the Arabic section in the images. People protested and then they were

Days have passed since the protests in Khuzestan. Dams have been opened. It was said that the opening of the dams has brought water to the province. Has anything specific happened? What do you think can be predicted for the near future?

They opened the water. But this water that has been opened is the autumn and winter allocation for the province. We will face water scarcity. It will not rain in a way that can replenish the water reserves of the region. Currently, the northern areas of the river in the province of Chaharmahal and Bakhtiari, which used to be covered in snow, have dried up. This is the autumn reserve. The question here is what answer they will give to tomorrow’s water needs? These are short-term plans. The fact that people are not protesting is partly due to the warm weather. Partly due to the oppression of the coronavirus and its spread in gatherings. Promises have also been made by the leadership and Mr. Rouhani. There is also the issue of government reshuffling. On the other hand, the nomadic people who are protesting sometimes listen to their tribal leaders. Here, they asked for the tribal leaders and in a meeting with the deputy of Mr.

Thank you for the time you have given to the peace process.