Professional Teachers’ Organization Emphasizes Labor Rights and Freedom of Imprisoned Teachers: Teachers’ Rights Trampled by Authorities

The Coordination Council of Professional Organizations of Iranian Educators issued a statement on the occasion of Teachers’ Day, announcing that it stands firm on the demands of educators, including the freedom and acquittal of imprisoned teachers.

In a statement released Friday, April 1st, the council, referring to the hardship of teachers’ work, which due to “mismanagement by authorities” forces them to endure numerous difficulties, stated that the more teachers strive, the more their natural rights are trampled by those in power.

In part of this statement, it is mentioned that teachers peacefully present their demands, but instead “face insults, are imprisoned and tortured, are humiliated, are fired from their jobs, and are sentenced to flogging.”

The statement added that the Coordination Council of Professional Organizations of Iranian Educators, despite pressures, persists in its demands – including free and quality education in schools and universities, the demands of active and retired workers, the acquittal and freedom of imprisoned teachers, education in the mother tongue, and the reinstatement of dismissed teachers who were active in professional activities.

In recent years, teachers and retired and active educators have repeatedly gathered peacefully to improve working conditions and receive their demands; however, they have faced security measures and the arrest of activists in this profession.

Mahmoud Beheshti, Mohammad Habibi, and Esmail Abdi are among the teachers who have been imprisoned due to their professional activities.

Source: Voice of America