The anti-union repression in Iran has become increasingly harsh in the last few years. In May 2016, 16 mineworkers of the Agh Dareh gold mine in the northwestern city of Tikaab were publicly flogged because they protested against the firing of 350 of their colleagues. Each miner received between 30 and 99 lashes after their employer filed a complaint against the collective action and the security services carried out the sentence.
Unfortunately, the practice of flogging protesting workers seems to be rather common in the country, another case occurring at the Bafgh iron mine for workers taking part in a protest back in 2014.