Sanandaj- Yesterday, teachers took to the streets of several cities in Iran to demand fair wages, better working conditions, and the release of their jailed colleagues. They shouted the “Release the jailed teachers” slogan. Several days ago, teachers took to the streets of almost all cities in Iran and protested the pressure, intimidation, detention, and arrest against teachers.

The teachers, who took to the streets of Sanandaj, demanded fair wages, better working conditions, scientific, free, and mother tongue education, and the release of their jailed colleagues.

“Pressures should end”

We spoke to several teachers during the protest about their demands. Bayan Rüstemi was one of the protesters we interviewed. “We have taken to the streets many times in order to shout our demands. We don't want to work under administrative pressure. We demand the end of pressures and arrests against teachers and free public education for students,” she told us. Underlining that the authorities have to treat all citizens equally and that all students should be given equal educational opportunities, Bayan Rüstami said, “If we have to raise our voices stronger, we will. We will not take a step back.”

“Education should be free for all students”

Another protester Fatemeh Zandkarimi drew attention to the educational inequality in the country and said, “Unfortunately, the pro-government media hasn’t reported about our demands for years. We demand free education for all students. We demand nonprofit education. The students, who have poor families, cannot continue their education lives. 40 percent of our schools are unusable.”

After reading a statement, the teachers ended their protest by shouting slogans such as “Release the jailed teachers”, “We don't want empty promises”, “Mother tongue education is our indispensable demand” and “We demand free education”.