“Release the imprisoned teachers!” was the voice of teachers who chanted such slogans yesterday in front of the Majlis (Parliament) building in Tehran. The police rapidly intervened and silenced them. Ironically, the teachers were protesting at a time when the conservative-dominated legislature was calling for the impeachment of the education minister.

Monday’s march began at about 1pm when the teachers gathered at Baharestan street to protest the violation of their rights. Iranian teachers have been discontent for some time now, but police’s actions on Monday demonstrated surprising firmness and brutality.

The security forces had gathered around the Majlis building at least an hour before the teachers gathering began. Tall metal fences were installed to prevent the crowds from blocking the assembly’s entrance. Police officers, helped by plain-clothed vigilantes, surrounded the Majlis building and prevented people from congregating in front of the assembly.

Many passing pedestrians who were unaware of the situation voiced their anger but were harshly confronted by officers. Many officers were also stationed at the building’s northern corner and in front of the offices of Jomhouri Islami daily. Responding to angry pedestrians, one officer explained, “This regime has cheated people out of their money and expelled them from their homes. People have no recourse but to protest, and we are here to beat them up and receive promotions, in case their protest gets serious and insulting. This is interesting isn’t it?”

Because of the heavy concentration of police officers in front of the Majlis building, many teachers decided to gather at the nearby Baharestan Square instead. Among them were many teachers from the provinces, who carried placards demonstrating their requests.

There were, however, other teachers who insisted on gathering in front of the Majlis. Officers initially backed off, but eventually things got violent: many protesters were arrested in a serious confrontation that ensued and lasted for more than three hours.

The gathering eventually ended in a tense environment, with teachers chanting: “Release the imprisoned teachers!”

Throughout yesterday’s gathering, the Iranian Teachers Association distributed an open letter addressed to the education minister, Farshidi: “What are teachers guilty of? Mr. Minister, have you not promised to pay the teachers a two-month bonus, like all other government employees? Mr. Minister, you know well that you are not going to serve in your post forever, and there will be a day when…. when you are no longer in power you will realize what a grave mistake you made. On that day you will receive nothing but the curses and insults of teachers, especially the families of those who are imprisoned… Be certain that the militarization of the education environment will not only fail to be a deterrent, but will unite the teachers in their crusade and make matters worse for you and other officials.”