Exclusive; Dozens of Retired Teachers Arrested by Government Forces in Tehran

Reports received by the Persian section of Voice of America indicate that dozens of retired educators were arrested during a protest in front of the Planning and Budget Organization in Tehran on Wednesday, June 13. One of the retirees participating in this protest told Voice of America, "In the morning, we faced a harsh response from military and plainclothes forces who arrested several of our friends to instill fear among the cultural retirees." He further referred to the "violent confrontation" by the Islamic Republic's government forces with the retired teachers, adding that they "were directed towards Baharestan Square and then dispersed into several groups. However, the retired men and women of 1400 continued to resist, and we traveled this distance from Baharestan Square to the Planning and Budget Organization several times." This retiree added: "In the final stage, they warned us and even kicked retired colleagues, and unfortunately, due to their brutal and unfair actions, the focus of the groups was disrupted, and after noon, we were forced to leave the area." Another retired educator also told Voice of America that "they had arrested about 5 minivans worth of people" and added that some of the detained protesters were released through the efforts of cultural retirees, especially women. Although there is no news about the status of the detainees, some reports indicate that several of the arrested protesters were released after giving assurances. The Coordinating Council of Teachers' Trade Associations of Iran stated on Thursday, June 14, that the retirees gathered "surrounded by repressive forces due to the indifference of government officials to their demands," yet dozens of protesting retirees returned to the Planning and Budget Organization to demand their rights. According to this report, "equalizing salaries, increasing salaries in line with inflation rates, and free healthcare" have been the main demands of protesting retirees in the past two and a half years. The Coordinating Council of Teachers' Trade Associations of Iran condemned the "violence and suppression of retired teachers" while emphasizing the right to gather and protest. The attack by the Islamic Republic's government forces on the protesters has been condemned by the Iranian Retirees Council, the Union of Retirees, and the Free Workers' Union of Iran.