Abulhassan Khanali: The Silent Voice of Justice in the Classroom

Abstract

This study aims to examine the factors influencing the martyrdom of Dr. Abulhassan Khanali as the first martyr of teachers’ labor protests during the reign of Mohammad Reza Pahlavi and to analyze the impacts of this event on the teachers’ movement and Iranian society. The main research question is what factors led to Khanali’s martyrdom and what consequences it had for the teachers’ movement and Iranian society. The secondary questions include: What were the living and social conditions of teachers during that period? What were the main demands of teachers? And what factors led to the formation of teachers' labor protests? The main hypothesis of the study is that Khanali’s martyrdom was a turning point in the history of teachers’ labor struggles in Iran and inspired many teachers to continue their struggles. Using the historical-documentary method, including contemporary memoirs and relevant sources, this study demonstrates that various factors such as the poor living conditions of teachers, the repressive policies of the Pahlavi regime, and inspiration from other social movements played a role in the formation of teachers’ labor protests and Khanali’s martyrdom. Furthermore, his martyrdom intensified protests and increased public awareness regarding teachers’ rights.