Iran's Teachers Associations Advocate For People's Rule

Iranian people walk at the Tehran Bazaar, ahead of Nowruz, the Iranian New Year, in Tehran, Iran March 18, 2024.
Iranian people walk at the Tehran Bazaar, ahead of Nowruz, the Iranian New Year, in Tehran, Iran March 18, 2024.

In a statement marking the arrival of the Persian New Year, the Coordination Council of Teachers Associations called for "the rule of the people" as Iran faces the biggest threat to its theocratic rule since the birth of the Islamic Republic.

Released on their Telegram channel on Tuesday, the council's statement highlighted the necessity of "change and transformation," stating, "With the rule of the people, their solidarity and cohesion, all barriers to a life of emancipation and equality will be removed."

Denouncing the suppression prevalent across various sectors of Iranian society since the uprising of 2022, the council said, "Deliberate sanctions on the sham parliamentary elections indicate the illegitimacy of this institution and the deep dissatisfaction of the people with the authoritarian governance."

Furthermore, the statement pointed out the detrimental effects of ideological and commodified education, leading to “stifled student motivation for learning, increased dropout rates due to poverty, and the reproduction of child labor.”

The council also expressed concern over the "militarization of schools," highlighting the punitive measures faced by protesting teachers and advocates across various fields, including education, employment, women's rights, environment, and arts.

Highlighting the alarming rise in execution rates and pressure on the LGBTQA+ community, the council attributed the occurrences to "non-democratic governance, hegemonic violence, and the lack of accountability of individuals wielding power," highlighted in elections earlier this month, largely boycotted by the majority of Iranians amid mass corruption.

This latest statement from the Coordination Council comes amid reports of dozens of teachers being detained, and summoned over the past year for voicing dissent against the oppressive regime, along with severe pressures faced by council members from the country's security forces.

The statement also acknowledges the pivotal role played by students from various parts of the country in expressing opposition to the policies of the Islamic Republic since the onset of protests triggered by the death in custody of Mahsa Amini in 2022.