Teachers in 60 cities across held rallies on Thursday, protesting a Majlis bill that fails to address the basic demands they have been making for months.
Both active and retired teachers are taking part in the protests, which are taking place in Tehran, Mashhad, Tabriz, Isfahan, Rasht, Sanandaj, Ahvaz, Arak, Karaj, Kermanshah, and many other cities.
In some cities, thousands of teachers have joined the protest rallies. In Mashhad, Tehran, and Shiraz, there is a heavy presence of security forces. In Shiraz, anti-riot forces attacked the teachers’ rally, but the teachers resisted and prevented the repressive forces from dispersing them.
The teachers are demanding job security, wages adjusted based on inflation and currency depreciation rates, education reform, and removal of discriminatory laws.
A recently passed bill by the Majlis has only approved a fraction of the budget needed to address the teachers’ needs. And the Majlis speaker, Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf, has stipulated that there will be no change to the bill’s content.
The teachers, who have held several rounds of nationwide protests, are now back in the streets to reclaim their undeniable rights.
The protesters are also demanding the release of several teachers arrested and imprisoned in recent months for organizing and attending protest rallies.
On Thursday, the teachers were chanting, “Imprisoned teachers must be released,” “Political prisoners must be freed,” “Teachers will die but won’t give in to disgrace,” “Students deserve free education,” “Teachers, rise and fight discrimination,” “We’ve heard too many promises and no justice,” and “Shame on the state-run broadcasting organization.”
Dec 23 – Tehran, #Iran
Protesting teachers force drive an agent back as reports indicate riot police are attacking the teachers & hitting male teachers. Female teachers are standing their ground & continuing the protests for fair/higher wages.pic.twitter.com/Y6ZyFsuVAS— People's Mojahedin Organization of Iran (PMOI/MEK) (@Mojahedineng) December 23, 2021
Dec 23 – Hamedan, western #Iran
Teachers protesting and chanting for higher paychecks, fair policies, and their trampled rights.#IranProtests#اعتراضات_سراسریpic.twitter.com/bcISD0GZUK— People's Mojahedin Organization of Iran (PMOI/MEK) (@Mojahedineng) December 23, 2021
Dec 23 – Zanjan, northwest #Iran
"Teachers cry out for your rights!"
"Lies & broken promises have lost their effect!"
"Protests will continue!"
Similar organized protests are reported from at least 60 cities across Iran.#IranProtests#اعتراضات_سراسریpic.twitter.com/BtriClEinK— People's Mojahedin Organization of Iran (PMOI/MEK) (@Mojahedineng) December 23, 2021