Rasoul Badaghi released on bail; human rights activist calls his release a "government retreat"

Rasoul Badaghi, secretary of the Islamshahr Teachers' Union, who was arrested by security forces on December 10th on the eve of a large-scale nationwide teachers' rally, was released on bail on Tuesday, December 20th.

The Coordination Council of Iranian Teachers' Unions announced this news, referring to the slogans supporting him at the teachers' Monday rally, and wrote, "If the demand for Rasoul Badaghi's release had not become a major demand, he would have had to spend Yalda night in prison."

After her release, Pouran Nazemi, a human rights and women's rights activist, in a video message provided to the Persian service of Voice of America, described the release of this teachers' union activist as the result of "the solidarity of teachers and educators" and expressed hope that "the entire nation" would learn from teachers.

This civil activist, appreciating the teachers' solidarity, said: "What made everyone's palates doubly sweet was the government's retreat from the stubborn and oppressive positions of these 42 years."

She expressed hope that "the entire nation" would learn from the teachers and emphasized: "If we women unite, there will be no more female prisoners and no more trampling on our rights. If we, the people, unite, there will be no more prisoners and no more oppressive and predatory governments."

Mohammad Habibi, a spokesman for the Teachers' Union, also tweeted after Rasoul Badaghi's release: "The Coordination Council, while emphasizing the teachers' right to demand, emphasizes the unconditional release of imprisoned teachers and calls for the release of all union activists."