Ei-iE

EI has once again raised its concerns about the harassment and intimidation of Iranian teacher trade unionists by the national authorities.

Pressure continues to be applied on activists belonging to the Iranian Teachers' Trade Associations (ITTA), who are affiliated to EI’s member organisation, the Coordinating Council of ITTAs, and the group has been prevented from holding meetings.

EI has written to the Iranian authorities calling on the government to stop state pressure on trade unions and to release detained teacher activists immediately, as well as to formally acknowledge the legitimacy of the Coordinating Council of ITTAs.

EI has specifically raised concern about the detention of several teachers and unionists, including:

Mr. Abdolreza Ghanbari, a 42-year-old lecturer of Payam e Nour University, who was arrested at his home in Pakdasht on 4 January, 2010. He was charged with ‘Moharebeh’ (enmity towards God) for receiving unsolicited emails from an armed opposition group to which he does not belong. While in detention at the notorious Evin Prison, Ghanbari has been interrogated for 25 days in a row under duress. In 2007, Ghanbari was detained for 120 days and sentenced to a six-month suspension from teaching and exiled from Sari to Pakdasht. His death sentence has been confirmed by Tehran's Appeal Court, Branch 36 on 27 April 2010. He has since been on death row.

Mr. Rasoul Bodaghi (also spelt Rasul Badaqi) is a detained member of the Iranian Teachers’ Trade Association of Tehran. He was transferred from the Evin Prison to Rajaieshahr Prison in Karaj on 10 May, 2010, and was reportedly beaten very severely by two prison officers. In January 2011, the Appeal Court confirmed a six year imprisonment sentence and deprived him of all social activities for five years.

Mr. Nabiollah Bastan Farsiani, a member of the governing board of the Teachers' Trade Association in Charmahal Bakhtyari Province, was sentenced to one year imprisonment by the Appeal Court of the province.

Mr. Tofigh Mortezapour, a member of the governing board of the Teachers' Trade Association of Tabriz, was sentenced to 91 days imprisonment.

Mr. Hashem Khastar is a retired teacher and head of the Teachers’ Trade Association in Mashhad Mashad. Suffering from kidney disease, he underwent surgery and was taken from hospital into prison, on Tuesday, 25 January against his physician's advice. The lower court sentenced him to six years in prison but the verdict was reduced to two years imprisonment by the appeals court. He should still serve one year.

EI and its member organisations continue to call on the Iranian authorities to uphold the rights to freedom of association and expression and to end its repression of human rights defenders.