In a statement dated January 15th, 2023, regarding the presence of plain cloths security forces in schools, the Coordinating Council of Iran’s Teachers Trade Unions emphasized the non-ideological nature of education and demand an end to the presence of police, security and un-uniformed forces in educational environments, under any guise or pretext. The council also demanded to return of students that have been expelled.
The council states: “The illegal entry of militarized police into schools and universities with collaboration of some of school officials, exposes students (children) to violence, insults, arrests and expulsions in spite of the opposition and resistance of some committed and responsible administrators; in addition to local laws, Iran is a member state of the International Convention on Human Rights which means that law enforcement and judiciary are legally bound to comply with the principles of these conventions and are not allowed to enter educational institutions”
Violation of these most basic rights of students have been accompanied by the complete inaction of the ministry of education and the tacit approval of the minister, to the extent that these collaborations turned some schools into bases for the riot police and security forces. Unfortunately, the issue did not end there, and the students’ resistance have been met with arrests and expulsion from schools.
In some instances, the continuous presence of undercover police as has provoked students into protests which have been met with violence and intimidation against them from the armed security forces.
The Coordinating Council of Iran’s Teachers Trade Unions has been in constant contact with different student groups and is familiar with their mindset and recognizes that current regime and its ideological approach of to education does not meet the needs of the progressive student population.
The presence of security and military forces in schools is illegal under any circumstances and is considered a violation of the privacy of educational centers. Physical, mental and psychological abuse of students is condemned under any circumstances and must be stopped.
Reports from provinces indicate that some school and district officials who have been collaboration with the police have confronted students who have participated in protests and used punitive measures against them. These include expulsion, intimidation and threats to the families of students to prevent media coverage of these confrontations.
The Coordinating Council of Teachers Trade Unions demands the return of expelled students as soon as possible and to compensate them for the material and emotional damages caused to them and legal action should be taken against the violators of the existing laws that protect students’ rights.
Free Them Now strongly condemns intrusion of repressive forces in educational environments and considers use of deadly force on school grounds as clear examples of war crimes. Free Them Now demands the immediate release of imprisoned students and teachers and the return of all expelled or arrested students and educators. Based on these gross disregards of students’ rights and use of violence in crushing peaceful demonstrations, the Islamic Republic’s membership in the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child should be revoked immediately. The Islamic Republic should be boycotted worldwide, and its diplomats must be expelled from UN committees.
Free Them Now