Ei-iE

The new school year in Iran looms with threats of increased intimidation, arrest and prosecution of teachers, union activists and those who dare to speak up in favour of quality education for all.

On the morning of September 6, 2015, Mr. Mahmoud Beheshti Langroodi, a board member of the Iranian Teachers’ Trade Association (ITTA-Tehran), was arrested by security forces at his home. The union reported that the previous day Langroodi had taken part in a meeting between ITTA-Tehran and Mr. Nobakht, Deputy of Iranian President Rouhani, to discuss the problems faced by teachers in Iran.

The ITTA has also confirmed the recent arrest of other teachers and activists, whose only offence was to defend the rights of education workers, demand quality education and the protection of the rights of students to free public education.

The latest updates on imprisoned teachers are as follows: Mr. Esmail Abdi, Ali Akbar Baghani, Rasoul Bodaghi, Alireza Hashemi and Abolreza Ghanbari continue to be in prison. Mr. Mahmoud Bagheri, a board member of ITTA-Tehran was released on August 17, 2015 after being imprisoned for 44 months. On August 22nd, Mr. Milad Darvish, a labour and children’s’ rights activist and honorary member of the Iranian Teachers’ Trade Association, was arrested following a raid by intelligence forces to his home.

Mr. Abdi, a leader of the CCITTA, who has been incarcerated since June 27, 2015, is being tried without the presence of his lawyer. According to the reports published in Iran, he is charged with propaganda against the Islamic system and conspiracy to disrupt the internal and external security of the country.

The Islamic Republic of Iran has started this new wave of arrests and persecution of teachers and education activists despite national and international pressure. The resumption of persecution of teachers aims to create a climate of fear and intimidation prior to the opening of schools in Iran in late September.

International response

Education International (EI)’s World Congress last July in Ottawa adopted two urgent resolutions on teacher rights and called for solidarity with Iran teacher unionists. The resolutions highlighted the difficulties of activists including Abdi, who was denied permission and arrested when he demanded a visa to leave Iran to attend the 7th World Congress.

In addition to adopting the above resolutions, the World Congress gave a strong mandate to the EI leadership to start organising a mission to Iran.

The pressure on the Iranian government to free all imprisoned teachers and labour activists in Iran and to put an end to the persecution of teachers and education activists in the country has to continue gaining momentum now that a new schoolyear is about to begin.