Protests and Unrest in Iran on the Rise

As tensions rise between Iran and the international community, the people of Iran are taking to the streets to protest the situation at home. Domestic unrest is on the rise. 

Teachers in more than 20 cities across the country protested in the streets and urged the authorities to listen to their demands. 

They participated in sit-ins in front of ministry of education buildings and chanted about the plundering policies of the regime and the repression and suppression they face. They held placards saying “No to prison”, “Detained teachers must be freed”, etc.

The MEK, the main opposition group, said that in Tehran over a thousand teachers protested, as well as families of political prisoners. Also in attendance were members of staff from the Ministry of Education, calling for job security. 

They reported that one of the protestors was approached by a security force agent who tried to snatch their phone away but he was pushed back by other protestors. 

To symbolise their dire economic circumstances, teacher in Shiraz sat at an empty table devoid of food. The salaries they earn are barely enough to feed their children. 

Anti-riot police were there to hold back the crowds and surround the protesters, but they were not intimidated – they continued to protest for hours. People passing by in the street praised the protesters, sympathised with their cause and showed their hatred for the regime ruling the country. 

The protesters emphasised that they would not rest until they got their rights. 

In Sanandaj, the teachers called for an end to the torture and executions in Iran. In Kermanshah, there was a huge presence of female teachers in the streets. The suppressive agents were powerless to stop the demonstrations. 

Protesters read a statement condemning the regime for punishing teachers who dare to speak out and they called for the release of Mr. Baghani – a well-known and highly regarded teacher in Kermanshah – from prison. 

The National Council of Resistance of Iran (NCRI) reported on the increasing number of protests taking place in Iran. It said that there were 13 cultural protests in during the month of February. Reasons for these protests include the lack of formal employment, the absence of salary increases and the lack of equalization of retirement wages.

The President-elect of the Iranian Resistance, Maryam Rajavi, praised “the noble teachers” who are protesting for their lawful rights and she called on the youth in Iran to show their support for Iranian teachers. 

She said: “In circumstances where the clerical regime spends most of the Iranian people’s wealth on suppression, export of terrorism, the massacre of peoples in Syria, Iraq, Yemen and Lebanon, the bottomless and anti-patriotic nuclear projects, or which funnels this wealth to the bank accounts of regime’s leaders and their families, the hard-working and noble teachers of the country that play the greatest role in building the future of Iran are living in poverty and face the most hardship in their lives.”