Seven teachers' union activists sentenced to a total of 41 years in prison and flogging
Seven North Khorasan educators' union activists have been sentenced to a total of more than 41 years in prison and more than 200 lashes in two separate cases by the Revolutionary Court and the Criminal Court of Bojnourd.
According to the Human Rights in Iran website, these seven educators' union activists, named Mohammad Reza Ramezanzadeh, Hossein Ramezanpour, Hamid Reza Rajaee, Ali Foroutan, Mostafa Robati, Saeed Haqparast, and Hassan Johari, were sentenced on Wednesday, February 29, by Branch 102 of Criminal Court 2 of Bojnourd County and also by the Revolutionary Court of Bojnourd County to a total of 41 years and eight months in prison, 222 lashes, and a fine of 3 million Tomans.
Their charges include "acting against national security by forming an illegal group with the aim of disrupting the country's security," "propaganda activity against the system," "disturbing public opinion through cyberspace," "insulting officials," and "spreading lies."
According to this report and based on the verdict issued by the Revolutionary Court and on charges of acting against national security by forming an illegal group with the aim of disrupting national security and propaganda activities against the regime, Mohammad Reza Ramezanzadeh, head of the board of directors of the North Khorasan Teachers' Guild Association, was sentenced to 13 years in prison, 74 lashes, and disqualification from membership in guilds, parties, and groups; Hossein Ramezanpour, a member of the board of directors of the North Khorasan Teachers' Guild Association, was sentenced to 8 years in prison, 74 lashes, and disqualification from party activities; Hamid Reza Rajaee was sentenced to 4 years in prison and disqualification from membership in parties and groups; and Ali Foroutan, Mostafa Robati, Saeed Haghparast, and Hassan Johari, other teachers and guild activists convicted in this case, were also sentenced to 3 years and 8 months in prison each.
On the other hand, Saeed Haqparast, Ali Foroutan, Hamidreza Rajaee, Mostafa Robati, and Hassan Johari have been acquitted by Branch 102 of Criminal Court 2 of Bojnourd City on charges of disturbing public opinion through cyberspace, insulting officials, and spreading lies.
However, Mohammad Reza Ramezanzadeh was sentenced to 2 years in prison, 74 lashes, and a fine of 3 million Tomans for charges of "betrayal of trust" and "spreading lies with the intent to disturb public opinion," and Hossein Ramezanpour was sentenced to 74 lashes for charges of "spreading lies with the intent to disturb public opinion" and "insulting officials."
According to this report, the hearing of the case of these union activists was held on Tuesday, July 2, in Branch 102 of Criminal Court 2 in Bojnourd city, while these individuals and their defense attorney had no information about the contents of the case and the issued sentence.
According to the Human Rights in Iran website, these educators' union activists were arrested by security agencies during nationwide educators' gatherings in October and November 2018 and released after a while on bail pending the completion of the trial.
This is not the first time that a teacher union activist has been arrested or sentenced to long sentences in Iran; Mohammad Habibi, Mahmoud Beheshti Langroodi, Hojjat Emami, and Esmail Abdi are among the teachers union activists whose status has previously been covered by Voice of America in its reports.
Mohammad Habibi was arrested along with 14 other participants in a rally held in front of the Planning and Budget Organization on May 10, 2018, to mark Teacher's Week. Last year, the appeals court upheld the sentence of 10 years and six months in prison and flogging for this educators' union activist and member of the board of directors of the Tehran Province Teachers' Association.
The handling of protesting teachers and their arrests by security forces have repeatedly been met with protests from human rights and trade union organizations.
The US State Department has repeatedly and on various occasions condemned the violent confrontations and widespread repression of protesters, as well as the repeated and persistent violations of the rights of Iranian citizens, including labor and trade union activists, by the ruling regime in that country.
Source: Voice of America
