Tehran witnessed a major rally and demonstration staged by teachers from across the country on Wednesday, July 22. They gathered outside the regime’s so-called parliament and protested violations of their rights and freedoms under Rouhani’s tenure.
The female teachers’ efforts in this rally were very significant. They were always in the front lines and constantly chanting against injustice.
The teachers were heard crying:
“Don’t be afraid, we are all together”
“Imprisoned teachers must be freed”
“Hungry until when?”
“We are all equal”
Eyewitness reports indicate that security forces had closed off the area to prevent any such gathering by the teachers. They had stationed outside the parliament and were equipped with batons and sprays.
Agents had closed all roads leading to the area and disrupted all the communications. Authorities were on high alert and they would arrest anyone seen taking pictures or films of the rally. These apprehended individuals would then be transferred to unknown locations. Authorities also used female police to confront any women taking part in this rally.
Despite all these measures, a large number of teachers were able to break through security lines and organize their gathering. Various reports indicate the teachers numbered 1,000 in this rally.
In response security forces attacked the protesting teachers and according to some reports around 200 teachers were detained at police stations in Tehran’s Abbas Abad district and Vozara Avenue. A number of the teachers were seen being beaten while arrested by the security agents.
The names of a number of those arrested are as follows:
1. Lotfi Nia – from Mashhad
2. Geravand – from Pakdasht
3. Pirouz – from Karaj
4. Hossein Salami – from Mazandarn
5. Soltani – from Mazandaran
6. Homayoun Bahram Nezhad – from Mazandaran
7. Tayebi – from Mazandaran
8. Refahiyat – from Hamedan
9. Mahmoudi – from Hamedan
10. Najafi
11. Sadeghi
12. Sa’adati
13. Aghil Naziri – from Karaj
14. Molla-abasi
15. Firouz Khalili – from Shahr-e Kord
16. Hakim Elahi – from Khorasan
17. Yaqoub Yazdani
18. Hashem Khastar – from Mashhad
19. Poure – from Central Province
20. Morteza Aghabigi – from Central Province
21. Ms. Firouzi – from Central Province
22. Ahmad Derakhshan
23. Alireza Azimi
24. Ms. Erfanian – from Mashhad
25. Kambiz Ramezani – from Kermanshah
26. Ahmad Moradi – from Kermanshah