Iranian teachers kicked off 2019 with a continuation of the protests that began in late 2017. The brave educators have not given up their cause, despite threats from regime officials and the imprisonment of many of their labor representatives. During 2018, the teachers of Iran took part in several nationwide strikes and numerous protests, gaining widespread support.

Maryam Rajavi, the President-elect of the Iranian opposition had called for supporting them and particularly for the release of those arrested by regime.

The MEK and the Iranian opposition were among the vocal supporters of the teachers’ strikes.

Based on MEK sources inside Iran Mojahedin.eng reported on the teachers’ protests that have occurred since mid-January of 2019. The following is a summary of their report.

January 24th Protests in Kermanshah, Ardebil, Alborz, and Isfahan

#Iran
Mohammad Ali Zahmatkesh, a teacher’s rights activist in Shiraz, was sentenced to two years imprisonment and one year of exile. His accusations are “propaganda against the state” and “insulting the Founder of the Islamic Republic”. pic.twitter.com/3hDy3D0wBh

— Iran News Wire (@IranNW) February 1, 2019

Teachers in Kermanshah chanted, “Livelihoods, housing, these our legitimate rights!”

“Free education is our right!”

“Workers, teachers, students, unity, unity!”

#Iran's teachers launch new round of protests.#IranProtestshttps://t.co/rpncmnF0qh

— People's Mojahedin Organization of Iran (PMOI/MEK) (@Mojahedineng) January 25, 2019

Teachers in Ardebil gathered in front of the regime’s Education Ministry offices to protest the regime’s lack of response to their demands

 

Teachers in Alborz Province chanted, “Inflation, high prices, answer Rouhani!”

Teachers in Isfahan protested the 40th anniversary of the Islamic Revolution in February 1970 with a demonstration. They chanted, “The revolution was not supposed to be this way. It wasn’t supposed to be imprisonment, corruption and poverty!”

Statement of Demands by Kermanshah Teachers

The protesting teachers in Kermanshah published a list of their demands. Their demands include:

 

• “The unconditioned release of all imprisoned teachers and the closure of their judicial files.
• “The classification of Kermanshah as a war zone…
• “An end to the threatening and persecution of teachers because of their activism for their rights;
• “The cancelling of the repressive ‘full-time teacher’ plan;
• “The adjustment of the 2019-2020 budget of the education sector based on real inflation rates;
• “Increasing the salaries of teachers above current real inflation rates;
• “Leveling the wages of teachers with other government employees;
• “The cancelling of inefficient insurance plans and the establishment of a functioning insurance system for working and retired teachers;
• “The provision of proper budget for schools and the creation of proper learning environments and free education…
• “An end to the “privatization” of schools;
• “Recognition of teachers’ associations and revoking all limitations and pressures imposed on teacher unions;
• “An end to education injustice for all students; [and]
• “A comprehensive grading of teachers
  Protests by Iranian teachers in 2018.”

November 14 – #Iran

Teachers are continuing their nationwide strike on this 2nd day, demanding the release of their arrested colleagues & protesting poor living conditions.

Saqqez
Khoramdasht
Sari
Mashhad
Zivieh
Qorveh#IranProtests pic.twitter.com/zWe4xEMZfP

— People's Mojahedin Organization of Iran (PMOI/MEK) (@Mojahedineng) November 14, 2018

Iranian teachers held three nationwide strikes last year, in which they refused to enter their classrooms. They made many of the same demands then, and they have repeated those demands in numerous protests before and since. The regime has refused to respond to any of their concerns or address the issues that have been raised. Iran’s teachers are responsible for the future of the country and are asking for better working conditions, better classroom conditions for their students, implementation of agreed-upon changes, the release of imprisoned colleagues, and the right to form labor unions. These are not unreasonable demands, but they have been ignored.

Staff writer

 

A new sector of Iranian society joined the list of striking and protesting groups on Tuesday, as retirees voiced their dissatisfaction with the mullahs’ regime in the latest round of protests in the uprising that has been ongoing since last December.

#Iran
A full report of a major protest held Tuesday by retired employees in Tehran demanding protesting poor economic conditions.#IranProtestshttps://t.co/KA9xLMuus8

— People's Mojahedin Organization of Iran (PMOI/MEK) (@Mojahedineng) October 16, 2018

Retirees’ Protests

Reports from MEK’s network inside Iran indicate that a crowd of retirees gathered in front of the Program and Budget organization in Tehran on Tuesday morning to protest unfair policies. Protesters from Fars and Kermanshah provinces, among others, are demanding that their salaries be increased above the poverty line to account for inflation, implementation of a coordinated payment system, balanced salaries, and payment of their insurance premiums.

State-run media reported that protesters complained that their salaries cover less than ten days of expenses each month. Regime officials recently acknowledged that retirees have lost two-thirds of their purchasing power in the past few months, though the actual numbers are far lower.

Teachers’ Protests

Earlier this week, teachers across Iran staged their own protests, refusing to go to their classrooms and holding sit-ins. The teachers were protesting low pay, poor benefits, looted trust reserves, the inability to form unions to advocate for their rights, and the failure of the regime to implement agreed-upon plans. Iranian teachers are also angry that their schools are underfunded, leaving their students poorly served. Finally, the teachers expressed outrage that many of their colleagues have been imprisoned for participating in unions or protesting for teachers’ rights.

Sep 11 – Tehran, #Iran
Retired teachers rallying outside the regime's Majlis (parliament) demanding the release of their jailed colleagues.#IranProtests

(Source: #MEK network inside Iran) pic.twitter.com/TfaD8iZjRM

— People's Mojahedin Organization of Iran (PMOI/MEK) (@Mojahedineng) September 11, 2018

Students in Karaj, Qom, Qeshm, Ahvaz, and Langroud protested in support of the striking teachers. Students from Allameh University and faculty members from the Social Sciences Department of the University of Tehran protested as well, carrying handmade banners, reading: “Imprisoned teachers must be freed!

“Imprisoned students must be freed!”

“Teacher, worker, student, unity, unity!”

Farmers’ Protests

As protests in other sectors have gained momentum, the farmers of Varzaneh in the province of Isfahan have added their voices to the growing protest movement. The farmers are protesting the loss of their water rights and the corrupt regime policies that have led to the drying of Zayandeh Rood, which has destroyed their ability to sustain their way of life. The farmers have been protesting for several days. They made a banner addressed to regime President Rouhani, which sarcastically read: “Do not do any more to revitalize Zayandeh Rood!”

October 18
Isfahan, central #Iran
Farmers holding a rally, protesting the regime's plundering policies.#IranProtests pic.twitter.com/DT73utcVVK

— People's Mojahedin Organization of Iran (PMOI/MEK) (@Mojahedineng) October 18, 2018

Workers’ Protests

Workers are also part of the current protests. Hundreds of workers from the municipality of Sushtar gathered in front of the municipality’s building for the second consecutive day to protest. They have not received their salaries or bonuses for several months.

Economic unrest and dissatisfaction with the regime’s corruption and mismanagement have reached a fever pitch in Iran. Protests and strikes grow in strength and number on a daily basis.

Staff Writer