Teachers went on strike in more than 300 cities, villages and districts yesterday
Imprisoned teachers must be released immediately
Teacher protests continue across the country. On January 31, teachers staged nationwide rallies in various cities and towns, following two days of widespread strikes and sit-ins. These rallies were held in Tehran in front of the Islamic Parliament, in the provincial centres in front of the General Departments of Education and in other cities in front of the Departments of Education. Retired teachers also participated in the rally alongside working teachers. The main demand of teachers is to increase salaries and eliminate discrimination and free education for all children.
It should be noted that teachers in more than 300 cities and educational centres went on strike and sit-in yesterday.
The call for these protests was issued by the Coordination Council of the cultural Trade Unions, and today it was met with a nationwide response and large and enthusiastic gatherings were held.
The presence of women in these gatherings was as prominent as ever. Reports so far showing gatherings and protests in the following cities: Tehran, Yazd, Tabriz, Ardabil, Hamedan, Ilam, Shiraz, Eghlid, Nowshahr, Alborz, Marivan, Khorramshahr, Urmia, Shahinshahr, Fasa, Kermanshah, Arak, Javanroud, Noorabad Mamasani, Hamedan, Saqez, Khorramabad, Isfahan, Semirom, Delfan, Ahvaz, Bojnourd, Romeshgan, Bagh Bahadoran, Chadegan, Shushtar, Arsanjan, Abdanan, Shahreza, Zanjan, Poldakhtar, Behshahr, Shush Daniel, Darab, Rasht, Izeh, Kazerun, Aligudarz, Bafgh, Lamerd, Bijar, Qom, Bushehr, Gerash, Dashtestan, Shabankareh, Harsin,
In Tehran, protesters chanted slogans against the government’s empty promises. In Shiraz, large crowds of protesters chanted slogans protesting security threats against teachers.
According to the news, on this day, Mohammad Ali Zahmatkesh, the inspector of the Cultural Association of Fars Province, and another teacher named Ghahraman Hatami were arrested. In Yazd, teachers raised their voices in protest, chanting “Teacher, wake up, defend your rights,” and “The imprisoned teacher must be released.” In Bafgh, Yazd, teachers spread their empty tablecloths to protest poverty and insecurity, with banners reading: “Prisoner Teacher must be released,” “We heard a lot of promises; we did not see any justice.” “Scream, scream!, against all of this fuss.” In Saqqez, protesters chanted: “the imprisoned teacher must be released”.
An important event in teacher gatherings today was the school children’s parents’ support for teachers. Parents of the older students reportedly responded well to the call of the Coordinating Council of Cultural Associations and supported the teachers’ protests.
In Delfanown, Rada, Mardani addressed the audience and spoke about the demands of the teachers. In addition to teachers detained in Shiraz during the protests on January 30th, Jabbar Dosti, a member of the Teachers’ Union in Marivan city,, and Ahmad Heidari, a teacher participating in a rally in Tehran, were also arrested. Also on this day, Jafar Ebrahimi, inspector of the Coordination Council of Cultrual Trade Unions, was sentenced to four years and six months in prison.
Also on January 30, Shaban Mohammadi, a member of the Marivan Cultural Association, was arrested at his home by Islamic regime’s intelligence agents. In addition, Rasoul Bodaghi, an inspector of the Teachers’ Union and a member of the Coordinating Council of Cultural Trade Unions, was summond by Branch 2 of the Evin Holy Court to sign in within 10 days now. And a number of other teachers are currently in detention.
The Coordinating Council of Cultrual Trade Unions, in the final resolution of the strike and sit-in on the 30th January, declared its protest against the arrests and intensification of the security atmosphere against the teachers and said: The arrest of director of the Marivan Teachers’ Union on January 30th, and the filing of cases and the summoning of dozens of union activists from Tehran to Marivan show that the government’s response to the demands is an iron fist. Trade union activists say they will not be intimidated by the crackdown. They will hold a nationwide rally on February 17.
The Coordinating Council has stressed that if by the end of march the proper classification of the teachers salaries in level of 80% of the salaries of the university faculty members and new rulings are not issued and the matching status of retired teachers is not done, wider protests will be called and classes will be closed. In the end, the teachers in their resolution emphasized solidarity and teachers’ and peoples’ unity as a condition for victory in their struggles..
January 31,2022
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