Protests continue against the arrest of labor activists and teachers and the "building of cases" against them

Criticism from human rights, labor, teacher, and pensioner organizations regarding the arrest of several labor activists and teachers on May 10 and the broadcast of a television report against them continues.

At the same time, Amir Raisian, the defense attorney for Reza Shahabi, Anisha Asadollahi, and Keyvan Mohtadi, considered the publication of videos and photos of his clients and other detainees to be a violation of Article 96 of the Criminal Procedure Code.

In a statement released on Thursday, May 19, the Center for Human Rights Defenders criticized the broadcast of a television report on the arrest of Cecile Kohler and Jacques Parry, a French couple, and the publication of images of several cultural and labor activists in Tehran.

On May 16, Islamic Republic Television, in a report attributed to the Ministry of Intelligence, accused the two Frenchmen of contacting teacher and labor activists and attempting to create "chaos" and "destabilize society."

According to the French Education and Training Union, Cecile Kohler and Jacques Paris are employees of this union and had only traveled to Iran for "vacation."

According to a statement from the Teachers' Union, Ms. Kohler is a prominent French teacher in the field of trade union activities and a prominent member of the International Education Federation (EI), an institution whose most important tasks include pursuing educational reforms and monitoring the conditions of education and training in countries, especially the situation of teachers.

The Center for Human Rights Defenders, headed by Shirin Ebadi, accused the Islamic Republic in its statement of seeking to suppress protesters and critics by "disregarding its own laws and making false accusations."

According to this center, the Islamic Republic "is trying, out of desperation, to suppress and silence dynamic and vibrant movements by creating an atmosphere of fear and terror by making false and baseless accusations of contact."

The Center for Human Rights Defenders emphasized that "in none of the current laws is it a crime to communicate with foreign citizens, trade unions, and labor unions," and wrote that "depriving the nation of its fundamental freedoms by making such unjust and illegal accusations is a clear example of abuse of power and is subject to criminal prosecution, and the authorities and perpetrators of such arrests must be held accountable for their actions." The Coordination Council of Iranian Teachers' Unions also wrote in "Response to the ridiculous scenario-making by the Iranian Broadcasting Corporation against teachers' union activists," "It has been an official member of the World Federation of Teachers (International Education) since its establishment and has had and continues to have ties with this international organization."

Referring to its union activities in defense of teachers and students and peaceful and civil protest gatherings over the last 20 years, the council criticized the security scenario against several teachers' union activists in connection with Ms. Kohler and Mr. Parry, members of the French Teachers' Union.

The Coordination Council of Iranian Educators' Unions, while condemning this behavior by the security forces and the Iranian Broadcasting Corporation, emphasized that according to the laws of the Islamic Republic, "before a public trial is held, with the presence of the accused and full compliance with legal regulations, it is not possible to play with the honor and dignity of individuals through a media outlet that carries a national bond."

The Coordination Council of Iranian Teachers' Unions announced that teachers' union activists Rasoul Badaghi, Eskandar Lotfi, Masoud Nikkhah, and Shaaban Mohammadi had been pursuing the demands of the teachers' union, and wrote: "While firmly supporting all arrested teachers and rejecting the trumped-up charges, we expect all of them to be released as soon as possible and without conditions, or that their trials be held publicly in accordance with Article 165 of the Constitution."

The Iranian Teachers' Union also issued a statement on Wednesday, May 19, calling the Iranian state television report on the arrest of two Frenchmen on charges of "contacting" teachers' union activists "a fabrication" that was prepared with the aim of "deceiving public opinion" and suppressing the teachers' rights movement.

Previously, on Monday, May 16, the workers' union of the Tehran Bus Company, in a statement, condemned "the fabrication of cases, arrests, and publication and dissemination of lies by the Ministry of Intelligence and other repressive forces," coinciding with the release of the report by the Islamic Republic's state television.

The Tehran Bus Company Workers' Union condemned "any accusations and spreading of lies against its members, including Reza Shahabi," and demanded that those labor and social activists who have been arrested, "including Anisha Asadollahi, Reyhaneh Ansarinejad, Keyvan Mohtadi, as well as detained teachers including Rasoul Badaghi, Jafar Ebrahimi, Eskandar Lotfi, Mohammad Habibi, and Mohsen Omrani, be released without any conditions."

The recent arrests and "security profiling" have also drawn critical reactions from other labor organizations, teachers and retirees, as well as Haft Tappeh sugarcane workers and the International Education Federation.

Meanwhile, Amir Raisian, the lawyer for Mr. Shahabi, Mr. Mohtadi, and Ms. Asadollahi, in an interview with the Thursday issue of Shargh newspaper, cited Article 96 of the Criminal Procedure Code and said: "Publishing the defendant's image at this stage is prohibited for the media, law enforcement, and even judicial authorities."

He added: "These claims that, simply by the presence of two foreigners, a large number of the hardest-working segments of society, such as drivers of the Waheed Company or teachers, workers, and other classes and segments, have been incited and encouraged to protest, are not very credible."

In another part of the interview, Mr. Raisian announced that the organization of which Cecile Kohler and Jacques Parry are members is "an official member of the International Labor Organization," and said: "Based on the regulations of the International Labor Organization, the Islamic Republic of Iran is committed to respecting and protecting communications between labor organizations around the world from accusations and inspections."

Meanwhile, the Campaign to Defend Reza Shahabi expressed concern about his condition on Wednesday night, announcing that the family of this member of the board of directors of the Tehran Bus Company Workers' Union was unaware of his physical condition.

The campaign wrote that Reza Shahabi's wife and daughter visited Evin Prosecutor's Office on Wednesday along with his lawyer, but they were not given any answers about Mr. Shahabi's deteriorating physical condition.

Source: Radio Farda