Many teachers are in prison, they must be released unconditionally
Teachers’ protest rallies were held again in 40 cities from 10:00am May 12th. Teachers gathered in large groups, giving speeches, chanting slogans and protesting against repression, arrests and lawlessness. The rallies were called by the Coordinating Council of Cultural Trade Unions to protest the continued detention and intensification of repression and the remarks of the Minister of Education who threatened the protesting teachers.
Despite the severe security atmosphere created by the government in various cities, especially Tehran, large numbers of the teachers came to the street and protested. The gatherings took place in cities including: Tehran, Shiraz, Isfahan, Sanandaj, Sardasht, Ahvaz, Rasht, Ardabil, Bijar, Shahreza, Bojnourd, Kermanshah, Amol , Dehgolan, Marivan, Noorabad Mamasani, Saqez, , Karaj and Yasuj.
The pictures and banners of imprisoned teachers in the hands of the protesting teachers, were very prominent. The slogan of the imprisoned teacher must be released was the central slogan of the protesting teachers on this day and resonated everywhere.
The presence of many women in this day’s rallies was outstanding and very impressive.
In Tehran, from early in the morning on this day, security forces and plainclothes police were present on Baharestan Street in front of the Islamic parliament to prevent the gatherings. Security forces’ vans were also stationed in front of the subways. Many teachers were gathering to attend the rally, but police did not allow them to gather. Massoud Farhikhteh and Lotfollah Jamshidi are among the teachers arrested today in front of the parliament in Tehran.
In Sanandaj, a significant number of people gathered in front of the education office and chanted the famous anti dictatorship song “Morgh e Sahar” which was composed in Reza Shah the first Pahlavi dynasty king. A banner reading “Free education for children”, “Cruel sentences against teachers should be abolished” were among the notable banners at this protest rally. In Marivan, a large number of teachers participated and the presence of women was prominent.
A large number of teachers were present in Shiraz, and Mr Shokrallah Ahadi, a member of the board of directors of the Fars Teachers’ Union, was the speaker. In his speech, he emphasized the legal rights of citizens to strike, to organise and associate. He also defended free education for all children and emphasized on unconditional release of the imprisoned teachers. .
In Yasuj, security forces were deployed in front of the General Directorate of Education to prevent teachers from gathering, and when the teachers tried to gather and protest more than 50 were reportedly detained. Their names are not yet clear.
In Nurabad Mamasani, teachers shouted slogans such as “Prisoners must be released, free education is your right today, education is on the verge of extinction, In Ahvaz, Ms Maryam Shirmardi was one of the teachers who gave speech spoke at the rally, and in her speech, talked about the the immediate demands of the teachers, and she protested against the arrests. During this rally, a teacher named Siamak Chehrazi was arrested.
In Rasht too teachers chanted: “The imprisoned teacher must be released,” “Free education, the right of Iranian children,” and “Incompetent minister resign!” In this gathering, the presence of a student with the banner of “my dear teacher, I am by your side”, created enthusiasm in the crowd, and this slogan was chanted by the crowd.
In Karaj, a female teacher warns that we will close schools if we don’t get response, and her remarks are met with applause from the crowd. In Qazvin, teachers shouted their anger with the slogans “Shame on bastard Minister”
The names of the teachers who were arrested and are still in prison on the occasion of International Workers’ Day on May 1st are: Rasoul Bodaghi, Mohammad Habibi, Jafar Ebrahimi and Ali Akbar Baghani from Tehran, Mohsen Omrani, Mahmoud Malaki, Reza Amanifar and Asghar Hajeb from Bushehr, Eskandar Lotfi from Marivan, Hadi Sadeghzadeh from Mashhad,
Shaban Mohammadi from Marivan was also arrested yesterday. Massoud Farhikhteh, Lotfollah Jamshidi and Siamak Chehrazi are among the detainees of today’s teachers’ gatherings. All imprisoned teachers and political prisoners must be released immediately and unconditionally.
Free Them Now
12 May 2022