Rasoul Bedaghi Released on Bail; Human Rights Activist Describes His Release as ‘Government Retreat’

Rasoul Bedaghi, secretary of the Islamic Azad Teachers’ Union in Islamshahr who was arrested by security forces on December 20 ahead of a widespread nationwide teachers’ gathering, was released on bail on Tuesday, December 30.

The Coordinating Council of Iranian Educators’ Professional Organizations announced the news and, referring to chants supporting him at Monday’s teachers’ gathering, stated that if the demand for Rasoul Bedaghi’s freedom had not become a primary demand, “he would have had to spend Yalda night in prison.”

Pouran Nazemi, a human rights and women’s rights activist, following his release in a video message provided to the Persian section of Voice of America, considered the release of this teacher activist a result of “solidarity among teachers and educators” and expressed hope that “all people” would learn from teachers.

This civil activist, thanking teachers for their solidarity, said: “What made everyone’s life doubly sweet was the government’s retreat from its stubborn and oppressive positions of these past 42 years.”

She expressed hope that “all people” would learn from teachers and emphasized: “If we women unite, there will no longer be any imprisoned women and our rights will not be trampled. If we people unite together, there will no longer be any prisoners and no more tyrannical and plundering government.”

Mohammad Habibi, spokesperson for the Teachers’ Professional Organization, also wrote on Twitter following Rasoul Bedaghi’s release: “The Coordinating Council, while emphasizing teachers’ right to demand, insists on the unconditional freedom of imprisoned teachers and calls for the release of all labor activists.”