Saqqez villagers protest gold mining over fears of irreversible harm to local ecosystems. Pic: Iranwire
Concerns Mount Over Environmental Impact of Mirgeh Nakhshineh Mining Operations
At least five residents of Saqqez County in Iran’s Kurdistan province have been arrested following a protest against the ongoing operations of a gold mine near the village of Mirgeh Nakhshineh.
The arrests were reportedly carried out on the order of the Saqqez public prosecutor after local villagers demonstrated over the mine’s potential ecological damage.
The protest, described as peaceful by residents, centered on concerns about irreversible harm to the environment due to continued mining in the mountainous and agriculturally sensitive area.
The gold mine protest has drawn increased attention to the tension between industrial development and environmental preservation in western Iran.
Environmental Alarm Fuels Gold Mine Protest in Mirgeh Nakhshineh
Villagers have warned of soil degradation, water contamination, and long-term harm to regional biodiversity as a result of the mine’s activities.
Local sources reported that residents rely heavily on the surrounding land for farming and herding, both of which may be threatened by continued mining operations.
Environmental groups supporting the villagers’ concerns have urged independent assessment of the mining project’s ecological footprint.
Though no formal environmental impact study has been released, early signs of land stress have already prompted community alarm.
Saqqez Arrests Intensify Focus on Iran Environmental Protest Rights
The arrests have raised broader concerns over the suppression of environmental activism in Iran. In recent years, authorities have increasingly responded to similar protests with detentions and legal action, citing public order and security issues.
The Saqqez arrests are viewed by civil rights observers as part of a pattern where ecological defense efforts are met with punitive measures.
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Residents of Mirgeh Nakhshineh continue to demand that authorities halt mining activity until guarantees can be made that local ecosystems and water supplies will not suffer lasting damage.
