Tehran Teachers' Union protests the kidnapping and forced hospitalization of Hashem Khastar in a mental hospital
The Tehran Teachers' Union issued a statement in response to the kidnapping and hospitalization of Hashem Khastar, an activist from the Mashhad Teachers' Union, in a mental hospital.
The statement, which was published on Sunday, November 26, on a Telegram channel close to the Teachers' Union, stated that this could be "a prelude to new horrific events," which, according to the union, is beyond the tolerance of Iran's currently inflamed society.
The Tehran Teachers' Association noted that it had no doubts about Mr. Khastar's mental health and added: "Without a doubt, the movements that created this joke have made themselves and their thoughts a laughing stock in front of the nation by insisting on not learning from history."
This trade union organization has further called on civil society organizations and the people of Iran to be vigilant in their response to Mr. Khastar and has warned the authorities: "At least to maintain their position, they should prevent the following elements from engaging in such scandalous games."
Previously, Sediqeh Maliki, the wife of Hashem Khastar, a member of the Mashhad Teachers' Union, had announced that the teachers' union rights activist, who had disappeared on November 1, was first kidnapped and then hospitalized in a psychiatric hospital under security measures.
In an interview with Voice of America, Ms. Maliki reported on the security apparatus's long-standing attempt to portray this teachers' rights activist as "psychotic" and said that, contrary to the security apparatus' claims, she is in perfect health and has no history of illness except for high blood pressure, which is a result of her imprisonment in 2009.
According to him, security agents had previously offered to release the teacher rights activist from prison by admitting that he had a mental illness.
The crackdown on teachers' union activists has intensified in recent weeks.
In early October, six teachers' union activists who were arrested during the May rally this year were each sentenced to nine months in prison and a fine in lieu of flogging.
A short time later, following a nationwide teachers' strike, a number of protesting teachers were summoned to the judicial system.
Source: Voice of America
