Tehran Students and Retired Teachers Rally for Unfulfilled Promises: A Call for Change!

Over the weekend, retired teachers and medical students in Tehran raised their voices in protest, expressing their dissatisfaction with the Iranian government. This wave of demonstrations highlights the growing frustration over unfulfilled promises and the increasing economic pressures faced by various sectors of society.

On Saturday, a significant gathering of retired teachers took place outside Iran’s Parliament, where hundreds demanded the payment of their long-overdue entitlements. The protesters, predominantly those who retired in 2021, displayed 100,000-rial banknotes as a poignant symbol of the national currency’s drastic devaluation. They chanted slogans such as, “Shout, shout / Against all this injustice.”

Since the establishment of the Islamic Republic in 1979, Iran’s currency has plummeted in value, losing 99.99% of its worth. To put this into perspective, in 1978, 100,000 rials equated to $1,428, but today, it holds a mere 14 cents. The demonstrators expressed their dissatisfaction towards Parliament Speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf, insisting, “Ghalibaf, have some shame / fulfill our rights.”

The Free Union of Iranian Workers estimated that around 1,000 teachers from various provinces, including Tehran, Alborz, and Qom, participated in this rally. Among their concerns was the government’s failure to fully implement the job classification law. This law is crucial as it mandates that retired teachers receive pensions equal to 90% of the salaries of active educators. The protesters also highlighted delays in payments, asserting that previous demonstrations on November 20 yielded no meaningful results.

Medical Students Protest Tuition Hikes

In a parallel protest, students from the medical programs at Azad University marched against steep tuition increases during Chief Justice Gholam-Hossein Mohseni-Eje’i‘s visit to the university’s Science and Research campus. The students held banners articulating their outrage at what they characterized as astronomical fee increases.

Since October 13, students from medical, dental, and pharmacy programs have protested an almost 200% hike in tuition fees. Despite their efforts, including demonstrations at Parliament and the Ministry of Science, officials have not addressed their concerns. Azad University President Mohammad Mehdi Tehranchi defended the tuition increases as a natural decision for a self-financed institution. However, students argue that these hikes disregard their financial realities and burdens.

Professors Demand Reinstatement

Adding to the ongoing protests, a group of 20 dismissed or suspended university professors sent an open letter to President Masoud Pezeshkian on Friday. They accused the government of neglecting to reinstate them despite previous assurances. The professors contend that they were removed for defending academic freedom, not for violating any laws, as some government officials have claimed.

In recent years, Iran has seen a troubling trend of university professors being dismissed from their positions, especially following the nationwide protests that erupted in September 2022. Many of those dismissed were either vocal supporters of the protests or were perceived as critics of the government.

The open letter was signed by academics from prestigious institutions such as Beheshti University in Tehran, Isfahan University, and Shiraz University. The professors are calling for transparency from the government, specifically requesting a list of reinstated academics, challenging Pezeshkian’s claims that many had already returned to their positions.

Negar Zeilabi, a history professor at Beheshti University, took to social media to share her plight, revealing that despite court rulings in her favor, university officials have denied her reinstatement due to pressure from security agencies. She characterized this inaction as emblematic of the broader failures to uphold justice for academics.

Underlying Issues of Discontent

The recent protests are more than just isolated incidents; they reflect a deep-seated dissatisfaction with systemic mismanagement and unfulfilled commitments across various sectors in Iran. The struggles faced by retired teachers, burdened students, and dismissed professors illustrate a broader narrative of economic insecurity and institutional inertia.

• Retired Teachers: Struggling with financial insecurity and delayed benefits.
• Medical Students: Facing soaring tuition fees, leading to widespread protests.
• University Professors: Demanding reinstatement after unjust dismissals, advocating for academic freedom.

As these protests unfold, they highlight the urgent need for the government to address the grievances of its citizens, ensuring that promises are kept and economic pressures are alleviated. The voices of retired teachers, medical students, and university professors are a call for accountability and change in a time of widespread discontent.