ERBIL, Kurdistan Region of Iraq – Teachers in several Iraqi cities continued their protests and strikes this week, calling on the government to improve their living conditions and respond to long-ignored demands, with demonstrations in some areas confronting a forceful police response.

In the southern city of Nasiriyah, riot police broke up a large protest near the al-Bahoo intersection, where hundreds of educators had gathered peacefully. Protesters said they were asking the government to fulfill promises made about their rights and benefits.

A source in Dhi Qar province's health department told The New Region that there were 42 people injured as a result of the clashes in Nasiriyah, with 27 demonstrators and 15 members of the security forces comprising the wounded.

“The teachers chose al-Bahho as a peaceful starting point for the protest,” said Wisam al-Fartoosi, one of the demonstrators. “But riot police quickly surrounded the area and tried to push people away by force,” he told The New Region.

Fartoosi said tensions rose after a verbal clash between protesters and security forces. The teachers then moved toward the local education department building to continue peacefully. However, they were met again with resistance and eventually dispersed.

A member of the Dhi Qar Provincial Counci, Salam al-Fayadh, was also reportedly arrested during the demonstrations after attempting to speak with security forces. 

In the southern province of Basra, another large demonstration took place outside the Education Directorate. Teachers held signs asking the government to activate the long-delayed Teacher Protection Law and to give educators land for housing.

Protesters also asked for an increase in family-related financial support, saying their salaries no longer keep up with the rising cost of living.

Some shouted louder demands, including permanent jobs for contract teachers and quicker action on 19,000 job positions still waiting to be approved in Basra.

“The government and parliament must stop ignoring us,” one protester told The New Region. “We will continue peaceful protests until we get our full rights.”

In Diyala province, teachers also gathered outside the local education office to demand higher salaries and better treatment.

Iraqi Prime Minister Mohammed Shia' al-Sudani on Tuesday met with the Head of Iraqi Teachers' Syndicate Uday Hatem al-Issawi, unveiling a package of measures designed to ameliorate conditions for teachers, including "distributing plots of land to educational and teaching staff" and allocating transportation fares to "educational supervisors," in addition to "activating all provisions of the Teacher Protection Law."

The General Directorate of Education in Dhi Qar released a statement condemning the assault on several teachers during the protests in Nasiriyah.

“We call on the relevant authorities to hold accountable anyone who attempted to harm the dignity of educators, who are the cornerstone of building future generations and serving the nation,” the statement read.

The directorate also urged teachers to avoid clashes with security forces, to protect themselves and the peaceful nature of the demonstrations.

“We emphasize the importance of exercising the highest levels of caution to ensure their safety and to avoid any escalation that could harm the educational process,” the statement said.