Mashhad Teacher: I Was Suspended for Protesting the Killing of Students and the Security Atmosphere in Schools

A teacher and former member of the Mashhad City Council has reported security measures and her 'suspension from service' following her protest against the killing of a teenager during last year's nationwide protests. Shahnaz Ramaram, a teacher and former member of the Mashhad City Council, told the 'Iran Watch' website that after protesting the death of 'Abulfazl Adinehzadeh' and the creation of a 'security atmosphere' in schools, her suspension order was issued. She also reported facing 'consequences' for her 'opposition to mandatory hijab' following the nationwide protests of 1401 (2022) after the death of Mahsa Amini while in the custody of the 'morality police.' Abulfazl Adinehzadeh, a 17-year-old, was shot dead by the Islamic Republic's security forces on October 8, 1401, during last year's protests in front of Ferdowsi University in Mashhad. Shahnaz Ramaram added, 'There were students who participated in last year's protests, and the next day when they came to class, I sometimes encountered them with bruised bodies.' Removing the hijab in a girls' school classroom, chanting 'Women, Life, Freedom,' and publishing 'literary texts with allusions to the regime' were among the accusations made against this teacher by the Islamic Republic's security and judicial institutions. Following the Iranian government's pressures against the families and associates of protesters and the deceased, Ali Adinehzadeh and Marzieh Adinehzadeh, the father and sister of Abulfazl, were also accused of 'propaganda against the regime' by the Revolutionary Court of Mashhad in July. The 'Hrana' website, a news outlet for a group of human rights activists, reported on October 2 that Mahdi Sheibani, Abulfazl Adinehzadeh's teacher, was arrested in Mashhad after attending his birthday celebration and memorial service. The 'Human Rights Watch' organization had previously issued a statement emphasizing that the Islamic Republic officials have increased their 'repression of dissenters' through 'intimidation, arrests, and persecution.' A large number of teachers and education managers have been suspended, forcibly retired, or transferred in the past year. Jalal Mahmoudzadeh, a member of the Islamic Consultative Assembly, recently confirmed this news, stating that '15,000 to 20,000 school administrators have been dismissed for political and ideological reasons.' Abulfazl Adinehzadeh's sister stated, 'She always asked about her clothing, and now I have to wash her gravestone.' She added, 'We families, despite all these pains, will remain standing until the day of reckoning.' Food was distributed in memory of Abulfazl Adinehzadeh, one of the victims of the Mashhad protests. Abulfazl Adinehzadeh's father stated on the anniversary of his death: 'We are not seeking blood; we are seeking justice.' The case for justice by the Adinehzadeh family has been 'closed'; the investigator advised them to seek blood money. The lawyer for the Adinehzadeh family urged, 'Just as quickly as the case of Ajamian is being handled, bring our case to a conclusion.' Abulfazl Adinehzadeh's teacher was released on a 'one billion tomans' bail.