Exclusive; A Teachers' Union Activist from Kurdistan: The Government's Iron Fist Policy is Doomed to Fail

Simultaneously with the release of a protest statement by the Kurdistan Teachers' Union against the sentencing of 10 teachers, a union activist from Kurdistan condemned the Iranian government's "iron fist policy" as doomed to failure. Farhad Mirzaei, a union activist, stated in an interview with VOA on Wednesday, July 25, that the unmet demands of teachers and other wage earners indicate that the "iron fist policy and violent responses" from security agents have "so far been unable to prevent widespread protests by teachers and other wage earners." He noted that the government's aim behind the new wave of arrests and summons of union and civil activists is to prevent protests on the anniversary of the "Mahsa Movement," adding that this new wave of arrests and crackdowns has not been able to stop protests from teachers, workers, retirees, and other wage earners. He emphasized that "perhaps in the short term, the streets may witness fewer professional protests, but experience has shown that security and judicial crackdowns have not been able to prevent protests." Mirzaei believes that teachers, workers, retirees, and other wage earners have demands that are not only professional but also intertwined with the demands of the people, and protests will continue until these demands are met. Meanwhile, the Kurdistan Teachers' Union has also called for the annulment of judicial sentences against 10 teachers and identified "corrupt and law-breaking institutions and officials" as the roots of insecurity in the country. In a statement released on Wednesday, July 25, on the Telegram channel of the Coordination Council of Iranian Teachers' Unions, it listed "summons, arrests, demotions, salary cuts, dismissals, and exile" of "thousands of justice-seeking teachers" as examples of "illegal actions" against teacher activists. According to this statement, 8 teachers from Fars province, named Abdolrazagh Amiri, Zahra Esfandiari, Iraj Rahnama, Afshin Razmjooei, Mojgan Bagheri, Gholamreza Gholami, Mohammad Ali Zahmatkesh, and Asghar Amirzadegan, have been sentenced to a total of 34 years in prison. The statement also mentioned the imprisonment and potential dismissal of Mahmoud Malaki, a teacher from Bushehr, and added that Sara Siyahpour, a teachers' union activist, has been sentenced to six years in prison and two years of travel ban. Following the intensification of security and judicial pressures on teachers and cultural activists, a "100,000 Signature Campaign" was launched a few days ago, which has so far been signed by more than 15,000 people. Among the goals of this campaign are the "release of imprisoned teachers," "removal of security charges against union activists," and the holding of public trials with the presence of a jury. So far, several labor and retirees' organizations, as well as teachers' unions and associations, have expressed support for this campaign. "Imprisoned teachers must be freed" was the slogan of educators at a protest gathering in Shiraz on Tuesday, July 18. Labor organizations and teachers supported the 100,000 Signature Campaign. Extra-judicial pressures on cultural activists; three teachers refused to attend their court hearing. Confirmation of a six-year prison sentence for a union activist; Sara Siyahpour: Teachers are being made to "taste poison." Six years in prison for a teacher; the 100,000 Signature Campaign for the release of imprisoned teachers has begun.