By Mostafa Aslani
On Thursday, December 23, teachers took to the streets in more than 100 cities across 30 provinces of Iran, according to reports tallied by the Iranian coalition opposition National Council of Resistance of Iran (NCRI).
“With their courageous protests today, Iranian teachers showed that they will not back down despite the clerical regime’s deceptive plans, threats, and suppressive measures,” stated NCRI President-elect Maryam Rajavi. “The first lesson of the arisen teachers of Iran is to be free and courageous in the face of the mullahs’ oppression. The teachers’ movement will carry on until their demands are met.”
“The protests manifest the determination of the Iranian people to overthrow the clerical regime, which is the main cause of oppression, corruption, poverty, unemployment, and poverty,” she added.
The nationwide gathering of Iranian teachers took place this time as the regime’s parliament botched a ranking bill to quell widespread teacher protests. Teachers, however, said clearly that the bill will not change their livelihoods.
Teachers’ rally was held in different cities of Iran, despite the fact that in recent days, security and judicial institutions have summoned some teacher activists and sent text messages to them, trying to threaten them not to hold the rally.
Teachers’ social networks reported that security agents were widely present, especially in Tehran, Shiraz, and Mashhad.
According to published reports, in Baharestan Square in Tehran, officers attacked male teachers to disperse them, but female teachers resisted continued to their protest, despite being attacked by security officers. In Shiraz, officers also attacked teachers.
Today’s protests took place in Tehran, Shiraz, Isfahan, Kermanshah, Kerman, Ramhormoz, Marivan, Ardabil, Lahijan, Yazd, Qazvin, Ilam, Karaj, Hamedan, Arak, Mashhad, Ahvaz, Rasht, Bandar Abbas, Neyshabur, Bushehr, Tabriz, Qom, Khorramshahr, Kashan, Sari, Najafabad, Nowshahr, Javanrud, Sanandaj, Kazerun, Firuzabad, Golpayegan, Borujerd, Khorramabad, Zanjan, Semnan, Neyriz, Bahmai, Mamasani, Jahrom, Shirvan, Izeh, Malayer, Babol, Shush, Gorgan, Abadeh, Borazjan, Darab, Lordegan, Mahshahr, Shahreza, Shahrekord, Sarbandar, Andimeshk, Bandar Khomeini, Pol Dokhtar, Lamerd, Sabzevar, Amol, Bukan, Bojnurd, Ferdows, Ashkanan, Nourabad, Aligudarz, Gachsaran, Shahin Shahr Dashtestan, Eslamabad-e Gharb, Azna, Torbat Heydariyeh, Gotvand, Behbahan, Bandar Ganaveh, Delfan, Sardasht, Semirom, Bijar, Bafgh, Qorveh, Dehgolan, Divanderreh, Shahrud, Torbat Jam, Chalus, Baneh, Farashband, Shahrbabak, and Abhar.
“Free all imprisoned teachers,” “Free all political prisoners,” “We have heard too many promises, but no justice,” “Livelihood, dignity are our inalienable right,” “teachers are awake, loathe discrimination,” “teachers cry out, demand your rights,” were the slogans of the teachers.
The Coordination Council of Iranian Teachers’ Trade Associations had previously warned that protests would continue ‘wider and longer’ if teachers’ demands were not met.
In its final resolution which was released previously, the Coordination Council of Iranian Teachers’ Trade Associations complained about next year’s contractionary budget and wrote: “How is it that there is a budget for an institution like the state-TV and Radio, which is the arena of the educational mafia? But when it comes to teachers’ livelihoods, this non-national broadcaster incites public opinion against cultural figures with fictitious reports.
“How is it that there is a budget to increase the share of the seminary, but for the field of education and training, money is not in the hands of the government?”
Finally, they warn that “government and security agencies should not assume that by arresting, beating, and prosecuting they can stop the demand process.”
At the end of the resolution, the Coordinating Council calls on all educators to “make the freedom of trade union activity and imprisoned teachers a serious and public demand.”
This article was first published by irannewsupdate
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