A report on the nationwide gathering of teachers in more than 100 cities; At least 20 teachers were arrested
22-February-2022
Category: Labor and guilds
20-February-2022
Newsgroup: Teachers –
Breathing in Confinement: On February 19, 2022, following the Coordination Council of Iranian Teachers’ Unions’s call, the employed and retired teachers staged protest rallies in more than 100 cities of the country. At least 20 teachers participating in the rallies were detained by police and security forces.
According to Breathing in Confinement, the news organ of the Prisoners ‘Rights League in Iran, on February 19, 2022, following the call of the Coordinating Council of Iranian Teachers’ Unions, the employed and retired teachers staged a protest rallies in more than 100 cities of the country. Along with the demand for the ranking and equalization of the salaries of retired and employed teachers and the demand for free education for children, the release of imprisoned teachers was also one of the central demands of the protesters.
Among the cities where the gathering took place were: Arak, Ardabil, Urmia, Azna, Islamabad-Gharb, Isfahan, Eghlid, Aleshtar, Aligudarz, Andimeshk, Ahvaz, Izeh, Ilam, Babol, Babolsar, Baghmalek, Boroujerd, Bonab, Bandar Mahshahr, Behbahan, Bukan, Behshahr, Takestan, Tabriz, Tehran, Thalas Babajani, Jolfa, Javanrood, Khorramabad, Darab, Delfan, Dehdasht, Razan, Roshd, Zahedan, Zarrin Dasht, Zivieh, Saari, Sarbandar, Sardasht, Saqqez, Semirom Shazand, Shahrekord, Shushtar, Shiraz, Shirvan, Tarom, Firoozabad, Qasr-e Shirin, Qom, Ghir and karzin, Kazerun, Kamyaran, Karaj, Kerman, Kermanshah, Kuhdasht, Lamerd, Lande, Langrud, Marand, Marivan, Mashhad, Mamasani, Neishabour, Hersin, Hamedan, Yasuj, Yazd and Khondab.
Teachers across the country gathered in front of the Education Department buildings, except for Tehran where the protesters gathered in front of the parliament. At least 20 teachers, including Shabnam Baharfar, Azadeh Mokhtari, Zahra Ajrlou, Mr. Jamshidi, Mr. Salemi and Mr. Shahriari in Alborz province, and Ruhollah Mardani in Delfan were arrested by security forces in Alborz province. Five of teachers and union activists who had been arrested in Alborz province were released a few hours later, but Ms. Shabnam Baharfar is still in custody.
According to the released videos, during the teachers’ gathering in Karaj, the security forces beat one of the teachers in the head and face.
The final statement of the teachers’ union, emphasizing the continuation of the protests until all demands are met, reads: ”
- If the law on civil service management and equalization of pensions with the salaries of employed teachers is not implemented,
- If the ranking bill is not implemented in accordance with the demands of the majority of teachers in 2021 and its budget for 2022 is not provided,
- If the government and parliament seek to loot the teachers’ reserve fund and do not accept the teachers ownership of the fund,
- If the job security of contract employees, service purchases and servants is not provided, and the 2021 retirees’ bonus is not paid,
- If the government continues its policies on imposing education fees on the parents and students’ rights are not guaranteed,
- If the imprisoned teachers are not released and the fired teachers do not return to work, and the sentences issued against the teachers are not revoked, and the summoning of the union activists and the filing of cases against them continue,
The Coordinating Council of Teachers’ Unions of Iran will continue its protests in different and wider forms. We urge the government to no longer stand against the will of teachers and to comply with the demands of retired and employed teachers.”
Following the teachers ‘rallies, the Council of Teachers’ Unions called on all teachers to attend the rally which is scheduled to be held on February 22.
