Iran: Teachers demanded the release of their imprisoned colleagues

For the second time in less than a week, this morning, freedom-loving teachers and educators took to the streets in Tehran and at least 100 other cities, protesting against the unbearable living conditions, low salaries, and the clerical regime’s hollow promises and failure to meet their demands. They also demanded the release of their imprisoned colleagues. The nationwide protests came as the intelligence and security forces made every effort to prevent or limit their scopes, with previous threats and deterrents. The protesters gathered outside the regime’s parliament in Tehran and front of Education Ministry offices in other cities.

In addition to Tehran, teachers’ protests took place in many other cities, including Kermanshah, Lahijan, Mamasani, Arak, Shiraz, Hamedan, Karaj, Sanandaj, Yazd, Qazvin, Bushehr, Khorramabad, Ardabil, Tabriz, Isfahan, Rasht, Shahreza, Lordegan, Andimeshk, Nahavand, Ilam, Delfan, Sardasht, Mashhad, Baneh, Bukan, Marivan, Sonqor, Gorgan, Behbahan, Yasuj, Shush, Qom, Ahvaz, Sanandaj, Bandar Mahshahr, Shirvan, Bojnurd, Neyshabur, Anzali, Divandarreh, Torbat Heydariyeh, Baghmalek, Azna, Aligudarz, Miandoab, Izeh, Qorveh, Borujerd, Kuhdasht, Abadeh, Takestan, Razan (Hamadan), Bijar, Fasa, Rezvanshahr, Shahrekord, Meshgin Shahr, Najafabad, Aran Bidgol, Abdanan, Abadeh, Urmia, Shooshtar, Islamabad, Zanjan, Saqez, Shazand Khondab, Lamerd, Ziviyeh, Harsin, Kazerun, Sari, Chalus, Babol and Abhar were held.

The demonstrators chanted slogans such as: “Imprisoned teachers must be freed,” “We are all together until victory,” “The country has become a thieves’ haven, blaming everything on sanctions is only an excuse,” “Raisi, Qalibaf, this is the final message, teachers’ movement is ready for an uprising,” “We have nothing else to lose, we won’t accept to be humiliated anymore,” “Teachers are vigilant, they hate discrimination,” “The bankrupt government is the enemy of retirees,” “Teachers rise to eliminate discrimination,” “We will not rest until we obtain our rights.” Referring to the fact that Ebrahim Raisi has only studied until 6th grade, the protesters also chanted: “You, sixth-grader, what happened to your promises.”

Repressive forces in many cities, including Karaj, Shiraz, and Mashhad, prevented teachers from gathering and arrested a number of them. Many students participated in today’s rally in support of their teachers’ protests.

Moreover, today, contracted teachers in Tehran also gathered in front of the Education Ministry and put an empty tablecloth, symbolizing their living conditions. They shouted their demands, “We are not leaving here until we get our contract,” “Enough of empty promises.”

Mrs. Maryam Rajavi, the President-elect of the National Council of Resistance of Iran (NCRI), hailed the protesting teachers and educators, who by chanting, “We are all together until victory,” demonstrated the nation’s resolve to revolt against 43 years of oppression, discrimination, executions, terrorism, and plunder by the despicable theocracy. The deteriorating living conditions of teachers, workers, nurses, defrauded investors, and other laborers and their continuous protests show that poverty, discrimination, unemployment, and high prices will continue as long as this anti-human regime is in power, she said.

Secretariat of the National Council of Resistance of Iran (NCRI)
February 22, 2022