Six Teacher Activists Sentenced to Prison and Lashing
Reports indicate that six teacher activists who were arrested at a professional gathering have been sentenced to prison and lashing.
According to Hrana, a website that publishes human rights news in Iran, the six individuals who were arrested during a teachers’ gathering on April 10 of this year, were each sentenced by Branch 1060 of the Criminal Court to nine months of imprisonment and a fine of 50,000 tomans in lieu of 74 lashes.
Based on this report published on Monday, October 2, the convicted individuals are Aliyeh Eqdamdoost, a member of the Retirees Union; Rasoul Badaghi, former inspector of the Tehran Teachers’ Professional Association; Ismail Gerami; Javad Zolnouri; Hossein Gholami; and Mohammad Abedi.
These individuals are accused of disturbing public order by participating in illegal gatherings and resisting officials while performing their duties.
The April teachers’ gathering, held in front of the Planning and Budget Organization to voice professional grievances and demand salary increases and prevention of education privatization, was met with a police raid. The arrested participants were released on bail after being transferred to Evin Prison.
Mohammad Habibi, another detainee from this gathering, is a teacher activist and member of the Tehran Province Teachers’ Association board, who was sentenced to more than 10 years in prison and 74 lashes, with 7.5 years of it being enforceable according to law. His case went to the appeals court last week.
The convictions of professional activists, particularly teachers, have triggered international reactions.
Last September, five French labor unions sent an open letter to Iran’s Supreme Leader, highlighting violations of Mohammad Habibi’s rights and urging special attention to the imprisoned teacher’s situation.
Labor activists in France also called in their letter for the immediate and unconditional release of all imprisoned male and female activists, including Ismail Abdi and Mahmoud Beheshti Langaroudi, imprisoned teachers.
Last June, the International Education Federation, the world’s largest teachers’ union, issued a statement condemning the arrest of Mohammad Habibi, a teacher activist and member of the Tehran Province Teachers’ Professional Association board, Ismail Abdi, a teacher activist, and other imprisoned teachers, calling for their release.
The British Teachers’ Union also launched an online campaign last month calling for international community support for the freedom of Ismail Abdi, an imprisoned teacher in Iran.
Source: Voice of America
