Human Rights Watch has called for immediate release of almost 40 teachers Iran has arrested nationwide before and since May 1 protests.
The watchdog said that as of May 1 Iranian authorities had arrested 38 teachers. The report quoted the reformist Emtedad news website.
“At least 17 of them are still detained, including Mohammad Habibi, the Iranian Teachers Trade Association’s (ITTA) spokesperson,” the watchdog reported on Thursday.
It said the arrests came after the Coordinating Council of the Iranian Cultural Teachers Associations called for a nationwide protest on May 1 — on the eve of National Teachers’ Day.
“Iranian authorities have yet again decided to lock up people for seeking to organize to assert their collective rights instead of working with independent associations to ensure respect for Iranians’ economic and social rights,” said senior HRW researcher Tara Sepehri Far.
“Attempting to silence peaceful mobilization and protests won’t make Iran’s dismal economic reality go away.”
Iranian teachers have taken to the streets repeatedly in recent months to protest conditions and the arrest of colleagues.
