SUNDAY, JANUARY 27, 2002
Iran bans teachers' rallies in central province
AFP SUNDAY, JANUARY 27, 2002
TEHRAN: Authorities in Iran's central province of Isfahan have banned all demonstrations by teachers following a series of protests, and warned that those who defy the ban face arrest, a press report said on Sunday.
Riot police and security forces on Saturday used batons to disperse an illegal rally in Tehran by hundreds of teachers demanding higher salaries, and arrested several of them.
The teachers, 10,000 of whom had demonstrated on Tuesday, defied a government ban and gathered outside the offices of President Mohammad Khatami.
The reformist daily Hambasteghi, quoting a statement by the provincial security council, said the interior ministry had forbidden all further rallies in Isfahan.
"This ban follows recent rallies by teachers in several cities and towns of Isfahan province," it said.
As well as causing problems for parents with the closure of schools, "These protest rallies have been exploited by unhealthy counter-revolutionary elements and foreign media," it added.
As well as Tehran and Isfahan city, demonstrations took place on Saturday in Arak, to the southwest of the capital, Babol, in the northern province of Mazandaran, and Urumiyeh in the northwest, reports said.
Iran's two million teachers earn an average monthly salary of between 130 and 190 dollars, on top of state assistance for housing. However, many of them earn less and are forced to take another job on the side.
They also say there are wide disparities and "discrimination", notably with regard to those who work in privileged areas and those in poorer areas.
On Thursday Khatami named a special commission headed by Education Minister Morteza Hadji to look into the teachers' grievances.
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