May 1, 2022: The secretariat of the National Council of Resistance of Iran (NCRI) issued a statement in regard to the nationwide protests of the Iranian teachers and pensioners in 21 provinces on International Workers’ Day.
The full text of the statement as follows:
On Sunday, May 1st, 2022, on International Workers’ Day, despite severe repressive and security measures, and the arrest and intimidation of a number of teachers from the previous days, teachers and pensioners held protest rallies in at least 55 cities in 21 provinces and demanded answers to their requests. In some cities, workers joined teachers and protested.
The protesters chanted: “Political prisoners must be freed,” “Imprisoned teachers must be freed,” “Prison is not a place for teachers, Iran is not a place for tyrants” “Illiterate Raisi, this is the last warning, the teachers’ movement is ready to revolt,” “Liar Raisi, what happened to your empty promises,” “Workers, teachers must unite,” “Students, teachers must unite,” “Our enemy is here (state), they lie, saying its America” “If one embezzlement (referring to state-backed plundering) is prevented, our problems would be solved.”
Due to the security atmosphere and the large presence of plainclothes security forces, the freedom-loving teachers in Tehran held a rally in the park and areas adjacent to the Ministry of Education. Teachers protested in front of education departments in other cities including Arak, Kermanshah, Qazvin, Shiraz, Ahvaz, Bushehr, Saqez, Nourabad Fars, Homayoun Shahr, Tabriz, Karaj, Aligudarz, Yazd, Isfahan, Harsin, Khorramabad, Yasuj, Langarud, Dehdasht, Delfan, Rasht, Shooshtar, Marivan, Dehgolan, Islamabad Gharb, Gachsaran, Shahreza, Pol Dokhtar, Ardabil, Kamyaran, Lahijan, Izeh, Qom, Masjed Soleyman, Mahshahr, Sanandaj, Borujerd, Qazvin, Khorrambid Fars, Torbat Heydariyeh, Tonekabon, Qir and Kazerun, Mamasani, Urmia, Neyshabur, Bojnurd, and Khorrambid.
In several cities, regime repressive forces threatened and arrested protesters, especially women, beat elderly pensioners with batons, and took them away in vans. The demonstrators shouted that the era of bullying was over.
Mrs. Maryam Rajavi, the President-elect of the National Council of Resistance of Iran (NCRI), hailed the protesting teachers, workers, and pensioners and said, “Once again, on Workers’ Day, you took to the streets across the country, called for unity, and shouted, “Prison is not a place for teachers, Iran is not a place for tyrants.” Yes, the people and the Resistance, with unity and solidarity, will sweep the oppressive and criminal mullahs from Iran and will liberate this beautiful homeland.
