Over 491,400 people have died of the novel coronavirus in 547 cities across Iran, according to reports tallied daily by the Iranian opposition People's Mojahedin Organization of Iran (PMOI/MEK) as of Dec. 23.

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Iranian teachers held widespread protests and strikes in cities across the country on Thursday, December 23. Working and retired teachers are carrying strikes in protest of the Iranian parliament’s adoption of a formalistic ranking plan that does not provide for their demands. Freedom of imprisoned teachers and the adjustment of the retired teachers’ pensions are also among the main demands of the protesting teachers. The regime's forces attacked teacher's peaceful demonstration in Shiraz on Thursday, but teachers held their grounds and shouted back shameless. https://tinyurl.com/mr4dbkkm 

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Imprisoned retired teacher Zeinab Hamrang has been hospitalized twice due to dire health conditions over the past two weeks. She has high blood pressure and kidney problems also tested positive for Covid-19 last July. However, the Iranian Judiciary officials have turned down her request for medical leave. The Revolutionary Court of Tehran has sentenced Zeinab to five years in jail for “assembly and collusion against national security” and an additional one year for disseminating “propaganda against the state.” Zeinab Hamrang, 45, from Ardabil, was arrested in early September 2020 in Khoy, in West Azerbaijan Province in Iran, as she was passing through on a trip. She was subsequently transferred to the women’s ward of Evin Prison in Tehran on September 5, 2020. https://tinyurl.com/yckked92

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The Iranian regime’s authorities had another woman executed in Dastgerd Prison of Isfahan at dawn on Sunday, December 19. The victim was Fatemeh Aslani. She had been serving time in prison for nine years allegedly for murdering her husband. Mrs. Aslani had pleaded not guilty in the court. https://tinyurl.com/bdfwthjw