Iranian teachers union blames protests on state 'mismanagement'
| Publisher | Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty |
| Publication Date | 13 January 2018 |
| Cite as | Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, Iranian teachers union blames protests on state 'mismanagement', 13 January 2018, available at: https://www.refworld.org/docid/5a9fc726a.html [accessed 6 June 2023] |
| Disclaimer | This is not a UNHCR publication. UNHCR is not responsible for, nor does it necessarily endorse, its content. Any views expressed are solely those of the author or publisher and do not necessarily reflect those of UNHCR, the United Nations or its Member States. |
January 13, 2018 09:27 GMT
RFE/RL's Radio Farda
One of the hundreds of protests held in Iran in recent weeks.
An Iranian teachers' organization has blamed the country's recent outbreak of protests on inflation, poverty, unemployment, and "mismanagement by state officials."
In a statement posted on the social-media app Telegram on January 12, the Teachers Trade Unions Coordination Council (TTUC) said Iranians were protesting "poor economic conditions, systematic discrimination and corruption, as well as poverty and social injustice."
The TTUC added that its own requests to hold peaceful demonstrations in recent years had regularly been rejected by the government and its statements about the dire situation of average Iranians were routinely ignored.
The statement complained about "untenable management at various levels . . . as well as widespread abuse of official positions."
Iran's Independent Trade Unions on January 5 issued a similar statement, saying: "For years, we said our wages did not allow us to make ends meet, but our voice was never heard."
Neither the TTUC nor the Independent Trade Unions group is recognized by the Iranian government.
Protests broke out in more than 90 cities and towns across Iran following a December 28 demonstration in Mashhad, the country's second-largest city, over rising prices and other grievances.
At least 22 people are thought to have been killed during the unrest, which targeted government policies but also featured chants against Iran's clerically dominated system and attacks on police and other official institutions.
Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei and other Iranian officials have blamed the demonstrations on foreign "enemies," while President Hassan Rohani acknowledged that "the people had economic, political, and social demands.
Iranians "have a legitimate right to demand that we see and hear them and look into their demands," Rohani said.
Read original story in Persian
With reporting by RFE/RL correspondent Golnaz Esfandiari
Link to original story on RFE/RL website
