Iranian Teachers Protests Update: 230 Arrests during Last Two Months

At least 230 teachers and teacher union activists have been arrested since early May, during the nationwide peaceful teachers’ protest. Additionally, at least 23 teachers have been summoned by security and judicial authorities. In some cases, the security forces used violence during the arrest, raided the teacher’s houses and conducted searches. 

During this period, active and retired teachers held protests on many occasions in different cities. During the protests, many teachers were beaten and several of them are detained and on hunger strike.

In late April, intelligence authorities began to summon and threaten teacher union activists. During Teacher Appreciation Week in Iran, active and retired teachers and educators held protests in front of the Ministry of Education in different cities. Their demands include the implementation of the “Job Ranking Plan” as passed in Iran’s parliament, closing the gap in pensions, free education for students, and a maximum class size of 16. 

Iran’s intelligence apparatus responded to widespread protests through arrests and the harassment of teacher union activists. At least 230 teachers have been arrested so far. In two protests in Tehran on April 21 and May 12, 70 protestors were arrested and taken to a detention facility, most of whom were released after a few hours. However, dozens of teachers are still in detention. In Saqqez, Kurdistan province, ten detained teacher union activists went on hunger strike in protest against their detention. 

The following is a list of detained teachers are verified by HRANA:

CityProvinceIdentified Arrests*Verified ReleasesSummoned by the security or judicial authorities
TehranTehran2931
SaqqezKurdistan2510 
ShirazFars205 
YasujKohgiluyeh and Boyer-Ahmad1572
BushehrBushehr113 
MariwanKurdistan1043
QazvinQazvin90 
SanandajKurdistan7210
RashtGilan755
DivandarrehKurdistan61 
AhvazKhuzestan4445
YazdYazd30 
KermanKerman33 
KhomeynishahrIsfahan33 
JolfaEast Azerbaijan21 
MashhadRazavi Khorasan21 
IsfahanIsfahan22 
DashtiariSistan and Baluchestan10 
KhorramabadLorestan10 
PoldokhtarLorestan10 
HamedanHamedan10 
ZavehRazavi Khorasan10 
PasargadFars10 
DelfanLorestan10 
AligudarzLorestan11 
NajafabadIsfahan11 
LangerudGilan112
SariMazandaran11 
ArakMarkazi11 
AbharZanjan002
KermanshahKermanshah002
IzehKhuzestan001

*The figures are limited to cases identified by HRANA and the actual numbers may be higher.

 

 

Teacher Union Activist Reza Tahmasbi Arrested

On Monday, June 20, 2022, Reza Tahmasbi, teacher union activist and a member of the Kurdistan Teachers’ Trade Associations, was arrested by security forces and transferred to an unidentified location.

According to HRANA, the news agency of Human Rights Activists, quoting Kurdpa, on Monday, June 20, 2022, security forces arrested teacher union activist Reza Tahmasbi without showing an arrest warrant

The reason for Tahmasbi’s arrest, the charges and his whereabouts are unknown so far.

In recent days, several teachers in cities across Iran have been arrested.

“Health Defenders” Sentenced to Over Ten Years in Prison

Branch 29 of the Revolutionary Court of Tehran sentenced the defendants of a legal case known as “Health Defenders”, Mehdi Mahmoodian, Arash Keykhosravi, Mostafa Nili, Mohammad-Reza Faghihi and Maryam Afrafaraz to a total of ten years and nine months in prison and other restrictions.

According to HRANA, the news agency of Human Rights Activists, quoting Emtedad News, five lawyers and civil rights activists were sentenced to a total of more than ten years in prison.

According to Mahmoodian’s lawyer, Babak Paknia, the sentences against these individuals are as follows:

  •       Mahmoodian: four years in prison, banned from presence in media for two years
  •       Mostafa Nili: four years in prison, banned from presence in media for two years, prohibition of practicing law for two years.
  •       Arash Keykhosravi: two years, ban from presence in media for one year and prohibition of practicing law for one year.
  •       Mohammad-Reza Faghihi: six months in prison
  •       Maryam Afrafaraz: 95 days in prison.

Attorney Babak Paknia stated that at a public court session, he was not allowed to attend the court even as a spectator.

The first three defendants were convicted on the charge of “creating anti-regime groups to disrupt national security and propaganda against the regime”. The two last were convicted of “membership in anti-regime groups.”

On August 14, 2021, during a meeting to take a decision on filing a lawsuit against the Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei and the government for banning foreign vaccines, nine Iranian lawyers and civil rights activists were arrested. The defendants of this case were dubbed on social media as “Health defenders.”

Ten Detained Teachers in Saqqez Prison Go on Hunger Strike

On Saturday, June 18, 2022, ten detained teachers, Khaled Abdollahi, Soleiman Abdi, Ahmad Ghaderi, Amanj Amini, Zahed Moradi, Esmail Reihani, Heam Khakpour, Taher Hamedi, Mohsen Shokooh, and Hasan Rahimian went on hunger strike in protest against their detention.

According to HRANA, the news agency of Human Rights Activists, ten teachers, who were arrested during the recent nationwide teachers’ protest, went on hunger strike in Saqqez Prison.

On Thursday, June 16, 2022, in response to the call of the Coordination Council of the Iranian Teachers’ Trade Associations, active and retired teachers and educators held protests in front of the Ministry of Education in several cities across Iran. Last Wednesday and Thursday, dozens of teachers including 21 teachers in Saqqez were arrested.

The teachers’ demands include the immediate release of their detained colleagues, the implementation of the “Job Ranking Plan” as passed in Iran’s parliament, closing the gap in pensions, free education for students, and a maximum class size of 16.

Mehdi Salimi Imprisoned in Evin

On Saturday, June 18, 2022, writer, translator and researcher Mehdi Salimi was taken to Evin Prison to serve his six-month sentence. Earlier, the Revolutionary Court of Tehran had sentenced him to three years in prison, of which two and a half years have been suspended for five years.

According to HRANA, the news agency of Human Rights Activists, on Saturday, June 18, 2022, writer Mehdi Salimi was taken to Evin prison to serve his six-month sentence.

In July of last year, Branch 26 of the Revolutionary Court, presided by Judge Afshari, sentenced Salimi to three years in prison on the charge of “blasphemy” and eight months for “propaganda against the regime.” Based on Article 134 of the Islamic Penal Code, out of multiple charges, the most severe is enforceable. Therefore, three years of sentencing is enforceable, of which two years and six months have been suspended for five years.

As additional punishments, among other things, he has been banned from leaving the country during the suspension, prohibited from membership in civil and political groups. and obligated to visit the Martyrs’ Section of Behesht Zahra Cemetery on a monthly basis.
Mehdi Salimi is a resident of Tehran, writer and translator of several books on philosophy and social critical theories. During the trial, the translation of Salimi’s books and essays such as “Theories about Gender Studies” was presented as examples of the charges. Salimi had been arrested on July 7, 2020, in Ahar, East Azerbaijan Province, and was later released on bail.

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 IRGC Intelligence Arrested Three Telegram Channel Admins 

In recent days, the IRGC Intelligence arrested three individuals for “disturbing public opinion through publishing classified documents”.

According to HRANA, the news agency of Human Rights Activists, quoting Radio Farda and Rokna, three Telegram channel admins were arrested by IRGC Intelligence allegedly for “publishing classified documents.”

In this report, one IRGC official claimed, “They attempted to gain the audience’s trust by publishing classified documents and by creating division between officials through fake and selective news items.”

This official did not disclose the individuals’ identities and their whereabouts. The individuals arrested are said in social media outlets to be connected to the IRGC Intelligence.

Teachers Mahmood Melaki and Mohsen Omrani Arrested in Bushehr

According to HRANA, the news agency of Human Rights Activists, quoting the Independent Iranian Workers Union (IIWU), on Wednesday, June 15, 2022, teachers Mahmood Melaki and Mohsen Omrani were arrested in Bushehr City.

Reportedly, two individuals’ families’ inquiry about their whereabouts and conditions has been unanswered by security and judicial authorities and the reasons for these arrests, the charges and their whereabouts are still unknown.

On May 1, 2022, Melaki and Omrani were arrested during the teachers’ protests in Bushehr. Melaki and Omrani were released on bail on May 17 and 21 respectively.

Last year, the Bushehr Revolutionary Court sentenced Melaki to refrain from teaching for two years and a 20-million tomans fine.

Mass Arrests of Teachers and Teacher Union Activists in Cities of Iran

On June  15 and 16, 2022, several teachers and teacher union activists were arrested by security forces in the cities of Rasht, Saqqez, Khomeini Shahr, Mariwan, Divandarreh, Sanandaj and Delfan. HRANA, the news agency of Human Rights Activists,  was able to verify the arrest of 51 individuals.

According to HRANA, dozens of teachers and educators were arrested in different cities.

On Thursday, June 16, 2022, in response to the call of the Coordination Council of Iranian Teachers’ Trade Associations, active and retired teachers and educators held protests in front of the Ministry of Education in several cities across Iran.

In Tehran, a high number of police and security forces prevented the protestors from gathering near the parliament. Also, in Saqqez and Sanandaj, the heavy presence of plainclothes security agents was evident.

The protesting teachers demanded the immediate release of detained teachers, the implementation of the “Job Ranking Plan” as passed in Iran’s parliament, closing the gap in pensions, free education for students, and a maximum class size of 16. 

The following is a confirmed list of individuals arrested in each city:

Rasht, Gilan Province

  1. Koka Bodaghi
  2. Aziz Ghasemzadeh
  3. Mahmood Sedighipour
  4. Anoosh Adeli
  5. Javad Saeedi and
  6. an unidentified woman.

 

Saqqez, Kurdistan Province

  1. Khaled Abdollahi
  2. Mohammad Fatahi
  3. Taher Ghaderzadeh
  4. Soleyman Abdi
  5. Azizi Marzi
  6. Ahmad Ghaderi
  7. Keywan Mohammadi
  8. Hossein Mohammadi
  9. Loghmanollah Moradi
  10. Khaled Sheikhi
  11. Salahedin Hosseini
  12. Ghader Yasrabi
  13. Marzieh Talai
  14. Amanj Amni
  15. Zahed Moradi
  16. Anvar Farajzadeh
  17. Awat Razawi
  18. Esmail Reihani
  19. Taher Hamei
  20. Keywan Ahmadi
  21. Salah Sorkhi

 

Qazvin, Qazvin Province

  1. Mohammad-Reza Behnam-Nejad
  2. Ali Sadeghi-Nejad
  3. Mahmood Sabooni
  4. Mahmood Zamani
  5. Saayadi (first name unknown)
  6. Hamid Farokh Amini
  7. Efekhari (First Name Unknown)
  8. Razni (first name unknown)
  9. Kazemi (first name unknown).

 

Khomeini Shahr, Isfahan Province

  1. Sattar Zarei (released on bail)
  2. Mojtaba Abtahi (released on bail)
  3. Ruhollah Ghadimi (released on bail)

 

Mariwan, Kurdistan Province

  1. Tahsin Mostafa
  2. Sivan Soleimani
  3. Aram Ghaderi

 

Divandarreh, Kurdistan Province

  1. Omid-Shah Mohammadi
  2. Othman Rezai
  3. Hiwa Ghoreishi
  4. Parviz Ahsani
  5. Kaweh Mohammadzadeh

 

Sanandaj, Kurdistan Province

  1. Salah Haji Mirzai
  2. Mohammad-Reza Moradi
  3. Ghias Nemati

And in Delfan, Lorestan province, one arrested teacher was identified as Parviz Eini.

 

 

HRANA Recap: This Week’s Protests in Iran

According to HRANA, the news agency of Human Rights Activists, numerous protests took place this week in Iran. Read our recap below for details, photos, and videos from the demonstrations

Saturday, June 11

The pensioners of the Social Security Organization held protests in the cities of Ahvaz, Hamedan, Karaj, Ilam and Shush. They protested against the government’s decision to increase the pensions by only 10% rather than the 38%  as enacted by the Supreme Labor Council.

 

The workers of the Tehran Darougar Company and the chemical and consumer goods Company Tolypers based in Qazvin, which are both subsidiary companies of Darougar Holding Company, held protests separately at their workplaces. Reportedly, due to the companies’ shut down, these workers have been suspended from work and not been paid.

A group of educators of Tonekabon County in Mazandaran Province gathered in front of the Courthouse in Sari to ask for the prosecution of illegal land grabbers. About 150 educators have lost their money through fraudulent acts of Madani Farhang Company and several land grabbers.

A number of farmers in Shadegan city, Khuzestan Province, gathered before the governorate building to protest against cutting off or reducing the fuel portion for their tractors.

A number of applicants for the housing project “Melli Maskan” gathered before the governorate building in Ahvaz to ask for their demands.

A number of personnel and trainers of the Technical and Vocational Training Organization in Alborz province gathered before the office to protest against low wages and their poor living conditions.

Sunday, June 12

In support of Political prisoner Vahid Bagheri, his family and relatives gathered before the Parliament in Tehran. On May 10, 2022, Vahid Bagheri staged a hunger strike in protest against the prison official’s rejection of his request for release on probation despite the head of the judiciary’s approval.

In Naqadeh, Bandar Abbas, Zanjan, Shush, Sanandaj, Tabriz, Shushtar, Rasht, Hamedan, Karaj, Ardabil, Arak, Kermanshah, Isfahan, Sari, Borujerd and Ahvaz, the social security pensioners held protests to demand 38% increase in wages as the Supreme Labor Council has enacted.

 

Dozens of retired Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) drivers gathered in front of a bus terminal in Tehran to demand severance payment and a four per cent premium as allocated for hazardous jobs.

In Tehran, a number of shopkeepers and merchants walked off the job, shut down their shops and rallied against increasing taxes. Reportedly, the demonstration turned violent by the police. A similar protest by shopkeepers took place in Arak before Iranian National Tax Administration.

 

A group of residents of Tehran gathered before the Electricity Distribution Company to ask for their demands.

For the second consecutive day,  the workers of the Tehran Darougar company protested at the company’s premises. They asked for job security and returning to work.

Monday, June 13

A number of artists and other residents of Malekan City, East Azerbaijan Province, gathered before the governorate building to protest against the appointment of the new head of the county Ministry of Culture and Islamic Guidance. They said that the appointment is not based on his merit but on his support from a parliament member during the election.

The protest of pensioners continued in Bandar Abbas, Ahvaz and Dorud. They asked for increasing wages, implementing a plan to close wage disparities, addressing supplementary insurance issues and end-year bonuses.

A number of preschool teachers gathered before the Ministry of Education in Ahvaz to ask for official job contracts and other demands.

A group of students of the Tarbiat Modares University gathered before the central building of this University to protest against the lack of proper amenities and facilities.

A group of the residents of two villages in Mazandaran Province protested against land grabbing by the General Directorate of Endowments and Charity Affairs.

A number of shopkeepers of the Kazerun City in Fars Province staged a strike and shut down the market in protest against the poor economic conditions.

 

Tuesday, June 14

Social Security pensioners continued their protests in the cities of Ahvaz, Shush, Kermanshah and Zanjan.

A Number of interns of Tehran University of Medical Sciences gathered at their workplace to protest against delays in payment and ask for levelling up wages.

One of the interns said, “You will not believe it if I tell you that at the age of 25, with such a high volume of work, they have just increased my wages from 1,3 million to 1,8 million tomans. Yet, the increase has not yet been paid. It is about 14 months that we have not received our delayed wages.”

A group of citizens with special diseases gathered in front of the Ministry of Health and Medical Education to protest against the shortage and high costs of medicine.

A number of shopkeepers went on strike and rallied in the cities of Shiraz, Arak, Borujerd and Minab. They protested against increasing taxes in hard economic conditions.

Wednesday, June 15

The pensioners of the Social Security Organization held protests in the cities of Shush, Shushtar, Dorud, Ahvaz and Kermanshah. Also, ILNA has reported similar protests in Gilan and Zanjan provinces.

In the cities of Ilam, Fasa and Arak, shopkeepers and merchants went on strike against worsening economic conditions and increasing taxes.

A group of retired bank employees gathered before the Bank Pension Fund in Tehran to protest against unpaid benefits and other issues.

A group of the personnel of Iranian international shipping companies gathered in front of the Road Maintenance & Transportation Organization in Tehran. They protested against layoffs following the privatization of these companies.

A group of truck owners held a protest in front of the Fuel Transportation Management department.

Thursday, June 16

In response to the call of The Coordination Council of Iranian Teachers’ Trade Associations, active and retired teachers and educators held protests in front of the Ministry of Education in several dozens of cities across the country.

In Tehran, a high number of police and security forces prevented the protestors to gather before the parliament. Also, in Saqqez and Sanandaj, a heavy presence of plainclothes security agents was evident.

The protesting teachers demanded the immediate release of detained teachers, the implementation of the “Job Ranking Plan” as passed in Iran’s parliament, the closing disparity in pensions, free education for students, a maximum class size of 16, and the release of jailed teachers.

 

A number of Tolypers Manufacture company of Qazvin gathered and rallied in the street led to the governorate building in Qazvin.  These workers protested against unpaid wages during the factory closure.

The pensioners of the Social Security Organization continued their protests in Rasht, Ahvaz and Dorud.

The workers of the Parsa Company who are working on a petrochemical construction project went on strike to ask for unpaid wages.

 

 

 

Anisha Asadollahi and Keyvan Mohtadi in Detention Extended for One Month

In recent days, Anisha Asadollahi and Keyvan Mohtadi’s detention was extended for one month. On Monday, May 9, 2022, security forces arrested these workers’ rights activists and jailed them in Ward 209 of Evin prison.

According to HRANA, the news agency of Human Rights Activists, Anisha Asadollahi and Keyvan Mohtadi’s detention was extended for one month.

Earlier, an informed source told HRANA, “Anisha Asadollahi is still held in solitary confinement and today was allowed to have a short visit from her mother. Keyvan Mohtadi is held along with three other inmates in a public cell of Ward 209.” The charges against these workers’ rights activists are still unknown.

Anisha Asadollahi and Keyvan Mohtadi had been arrested and convicted before for their civil activities. On May 1, 2019, along with many other workers and worker’s rights activists, Anisha Asadollahi was arrested at a gathering for the celebration of International Workers’ Day. Subsequently, the Revolutionary Court of Tehran sentenced her to one-year imprisonment (of which six months were suspended) and 74 lashes on the charge of “disturbing the public order”. She was jailed in Evin prison for sentencing on January 4, 2020, and was freed on January 21 of that year.

Anisha Asadollahi is an electrical engineer and a graduate of K. N. Toosi University of Technology. She works as an English teacher.