Teachers’ Sit-in Continues on Second Day in Iran

The sit-in by teachers and educators across Iran, which began on Sunday, October 13, continued on Monday as well. Teachers are protesting against inflation, rising costs, and the imprisonment of some of their colleagues. Pressure on teachers to end the sit-in has increased.

The “Coordination Council of Professional Organizations of Iranian Educators,” which organized the teachers’ sit-in, wrote on its Telegram channel on Monday, October 15, that “teachers with their unity completed the first day of the nationwide sit-in of educators in October.”

The council’s Telegram channel also reported that “attempts have been made to isolate the nationwide sit-in group of October educators from reach and by intimidating colleagues, dismantle the group to destroy our unity.”

Iranian teachers have shared images of their professional sit-ins on the second day of the protest on the Telegram channel of the “Coordination Council of Professional Organizations of Iranian Educators” and on Twitter using the hashtag “nationwide teacher sit-in.”

Arrest of Secretary of Teachers’ Professional Association in North Khorasan

In some Iranian cities, pressure on protesting teachers has increased.

MohammadReza Ramezanzadeh, chairman of the Coordination Council of Professional Organizations of Educators and secretary of the Teachers’ Professional Association in North Khorasan, has been arrested by intelligence agents in the city of Bojnord. According to his colleagues, Mr. Ramezanzadeh went on a hunger strike from the moment of his arrest.

In addition to working teachers, retired teachers have also participated in the protests.

Alaheh Bahrami, a retired middle school teacher in Tehran who retired in 2000, told Deutsche Welle: “Working and retired teachers have protested many times before, but unfortunately their demands have not been addressed. In Iran, whenever anyone stages a sit-in or strike by any means, instead of addressing it, they are arrested and imprisoned.”

This retired teacher further emphasized that many teachers have lost hope in solving their problems because their demands have been ignored. She continued: “This has been repeated many times, but teachers have not been united and cohesive until now, and strikes or sit-ins have not led to positive results.”

According to Bahrami, teachers cannot sustain their lives on retirement pensions and are forced to have second or third jobs.

Niknejad, a teacher living in Tehran, also told Deutsche Welle Farsi that this time the sit-ins have been widespread and the authorities have become aware of teachers’ demands. He added: “Certainly, the teachers’ sit-in has had an impact and reflection, and our voice has been heard and reached the ears of officials. Virtual space has been an opportunity for civil groups that has had a good effect.”

Mr. Niknejad continued: “The current sit-ins are in line with previous protests by educators in the country. Because the educational and professional situation has not changed in recent weeks and has not improved, and for this reason the sit-in and protest have continued. And if there is no receptive ear for it, this issue will experience fluctuations and ups and downs. We hope that these movements will yield results and our voices will be heard and have their effect in the medium and long term.”

Difference Between Current Teachers’ Sit-in and Previous Protests

Leila Zuri, who was a teacher for several years and currently lives in Germany, told Deutsche Welle: “Teachers have protested every year before, but this year the sit-in of educators differs in several ways from last year or previous years. First, the number of teachers who participated in the sit-ins is greater and these protests have taken on a general and nationwide character. Second, teachers have succeeded in better using social networks to make their voices more effective and present their demands. But most importantly, the general sit-in of teachers has been accompanied by protests by truck drivers. For this reason, Iranian teachers hope that instead of pressure and arrests, this time their voices will be heard.”

Source: DW