DW/QANTARA (10/8/2020)
For the past weeks, social media in Jordan has filled with photos and videos of demonstrators gathering in cities all over the country. “Long live the teacher,” and “we will not be silenced” hundreds of protesters chant in the videos.
On 25 July, the Jordanian government shut down the opposition-run teachers’ union – The Teachers Syndicate – for two years, arresting its leading members. Yet, despite the order to suspend the union’s activities, teachers have continued their nationwide protests.
Beyond their initial demands for better salaries and work conditions, teachers are asking for the release of union members and the re-opening of the union. Some demonstrators have escalated their demands and are calling for the resignation of Jordan’s prime-minister Omar Razzaz.
While photos and videos of protests fill social media, very few of these images have made it into Jordanian newspapers or TV channels. Following a raid on the union’s offices and the arrest of its leadership, Jordanian authorities issued a gagging order barring publication of news or commentary on the case, except by entities authorised by the state.
According to state news agency Petra, the head of the union Nasser Nawasreh has been charged with incitement, with several members of the union arrested for questioning on “criminal and corruption charges”.
Prominent source of opposition
With over 100,000 members, the Teachers Syndicate is one of the most prominent sources of opposition to the Jordanian government. Last year, it went on strike for over a month until a deal could be struck with the government regarding a teachers’ pay increase. (…)
Photos by Sherbel Dissi