A Teacher in Iran Goes on 'Dry Hunger Strike'

The Iranian Teachers' Trade Association has reported that Mahmoud Beheshti Langroudi, the spokesperson of this organization, has gone on a 'dry hunger strike' in Evin Prison. A board member of this association has held the 'judicial and security authorities, particularly the government of Hassan Rouhani and the Ministry of Education' responsible for 'any potential incident' concerning him. According to the Teacher and Worker Rights website, Mr. Beheshti Langroudi's dry hunger strike began on Wednesday, October 8. A dry hunger strike means that the prisoner abstains from both food and liquids. This strike is in protest against the implementation of previously suspended sentences. Mr. Beheshti Langroudi was sentenced to five years in prison in 2010 during a five-minute trial at the Islamic Revolutionary Court. The Iranian Teachers' Trade Association has pointed out that the health of this imprisoned teacher is at risk due to the continuation of the dry hunger strike and has called for a medical team to provide precise care for Mr. Beheshti Langroudi, halt the execution of the sentence, and review his case by judges outside the Revolutionary Court. Mohammad Habibi, the spokesperson for the Iranian Teachers' Trade Association, stated that Mr. Beheshti's family has been negotiating with judicial authorities since the day he was prevented from being released despite the announcement of bail, but 'when all avenues remained unfruitful,' he began his dry hunger strike. Besides Mahmoud Beheshti Langroudi, several other teachers are also imprisoned in Iran. Many teachers in Iran protest low wages, temporary contracts, and difficult working conditions. Mahmoud Barati, another imprisoned teacher, was executed this September on drug-related charges. According to Mr. Barati's relatives, he had been in prison for nine years and 'no drugs had been found on him. Mahmoud Barati was sentenced to death based on the confession of a drug dealer who, before his execution, twice stated in writing that his confession was false and was only made because he thought this teacher had betrayed him.'