Dozens arrested and summoned during peaceful rallies of Iranian teachers

Iran-HRM – In connection with the peaceful rallies of Iranian teachers during Teacher’s Week, several activists have been summoned by security agencies and some have been arrested and detained since a month ago.

On May 1, employed and retired teachers and educators gathered in front of education departments in more than 40 cities to protest the failure to address their demands.

Chants by teachers heard in various Iranian cities during the May Day protests this year included: “[President] Raisi you’re a liar; what happened to your promises?” (Mahshahr); “They say America is our enemy. That’s a lie! Our enemy is right here!” (Shiraz); and “Imprisoned teachers must be freed! (Divandareh).

Iranian security forces arrested dozens of teachers during the peaceful gatherings.

On Thursday, May 12, 2022, Iranian teachers and educators continued to demand their rights. They took to the streets to protest the non-fulfillment of their demands, including ranking and adjusting their pensions. Another demand in the teachers’ demonstrations was the release of imprisoned teachers.

The protests, which have been sprouting throughout the country for months, are strongly supported by Iranians including civil rights activists.

The Iranian regime started summoning, arresting, and harassing activists before International Workers’ Day, which coincides with teachers’ week in Iran, to prevent peaceful rallies of Iranian teachers. 

Dozens arrested during peaceful rallies of Iranian teachers

On April 30, Ali Akbar Baghani, Rasoul Badaghi, Mohammad Habibi, and Jafar Ebrahimi, four members of the Iranian Teachers’ Trade Association, were detained by security forces and transferred to the Ministry of Intelligence Detention Center, Ward 209 of Evin Prison. Among the detainees, Ali Akbar Baghani was released from Evin Prison on May 15.

On May 11, Hamid Khojasteh, Ardeshir Sayadi, Yousef Sayadi, Fereydoon Shafiei, Mahmoud Malaki, Mohsen Omrani, Mohammad Khajeh, Asghar Hajib, and Reza Amanifar were arrested in the southern city of Bushehr.

Fatemeh Bahmani was arrested in the city of Arak.

Eskandar Lotfi, Shaban Mohammadi, Masoud Nikkhah, Jabbar Dousti, and Mehdi Tafsiri were arrested in the western city of Marivan.

Massoud Nikkhah was released on bail from Marivan prison on May 11 and was re-arrested a day later.

Salah Sorkhi was also arrested in the city of Saqez.

At the same time, Safar Ramezani and Ehsan Asadi were arrested in Langarud while Mansoureh Erfanian and Hadi Sadeghzadeh were detained in Mashhad. Ali Haji was arrested in Jolfa and Ebrahim Mahmoudi was arrested in Aligudarz. Reza Moslemi was arrested in Hamedan.

Aram Ghaderi, a teacher living in Marivan, was also beaten by security forces and detained for several hours.

On May 11, Hossein Mehdipour, a teacher living in Dashtiari, was arrested by security forces and taken to an unknown location.

city on Thursday, May 12, Abdolrasoul Emadi, a member of the board of directors of the Isfahan Teachers’ Association, and Rahman Raisi were arrested in Isfahan.

On May 13, Fariba Moeini, a member of the board of directors of the Najafabad Teachers’ Association, was arrested at her own home.

At the same time in Yazd, Ahmad Changizi, Mehdi Kalantari, and Hamideh Zare were arrested during peaceful rallies of Iranian teachers.

In Yasuj, the capital of Kohgiluyeh and Boyer-Ahmad Province, more than 20 teachers and educators were detained by security forces and transferred to the Yasuj Intelligence and Security Police Detention Center, some of whom include Yaghoub Zare, Rahim Zare, Hajir Hojjati, Khadijeh Mobaraki, Behnam Asef Jah, Soraya Aghaei and Ms. Poozesh”.

Dozens of these teachers and activists are still in prison. They include, Eskandar Lotfi, Masoud Nikkhah, Shaban Mohammadi, Rasoul Badaghi, Jafar Ebrahimi, Mohammad Habibi, Reza Amanifar, Hadi Sadeghzadeh, Mojgan Bagheri, Fariba Nezamzadeh, Mohammad Alishvandi, Asghar Amirzadegan, Mehrdad Yaghmaei, Afshin Razmjoo, Gholamazi , Hamid Abbasi, Abdolrazaq Amiri, Mohammad Ali Zahmatkesh, Mohsen Bahrami, Fariba Moeini, Mehdi Kalantari, Hamideh Zare and Ahmad Changizi.

Peaceful rallies of Iranian teachers

On International Labor Day, May 1, 2022, Iranian educators and teachers rose to demand the release of imprisoned teachers. They chanted the slogan, “Free the imprisoned teacher,” throughout Iran. The nationwide protest took place in 55 cities and 21 provinces of Iran.

In many cities, including Marivan, security forces were widely present in front of the education departments.

The Telegram channel of the Coordination Council of Iranian Teachers’ Associations reported that security forces in Bushehr attacked a peaceful gathering of teachers and arrested and beat a number of them.

Teachers demonstrated again on May 12. Iranian teachers and educators took to the streets to protest the non-fulfillment of their demands, including ranking and adjusting their pensions. Another demand in the teachers’ demonstrations was the release of imprisoned teachers.

The demonstrations took place in front of the parliament in Tehran and in front of education departments in other cities.

In Isfahan, security forces occupied the teachers’ gathering place and prevented their gathering. Police forcibly threw teachers on the sidewalk.

In Ardabil, the State Security forces attacked a gathering of teachers. In Ahwaz, teachers resisting the arrest of other colleagues were beaten by security forces.