Continued Judicial Actions Against Teachers' Union Activists Ahead of Nowruz 1403

Judicial authorities of the Islamic Republic have summoned, tried, and sentenced several teachers' union activists ahead of Nowruz. According to the Telegram channel of the 'Coordination Council of Teachers' Trade Unions of Iran', the Islamic Revolutionary Court of Malayer has summoned Hossein Abadian, a teachers' union activist and a forced retiree. Among the charges against this teacher from Malayer, employed in Shahriar, are 'propaganda against the regime', 'insulting the leader', and 'insulting Islam'. On the other hand, Nowruz Rashidi, a teacher in Yasuj, has defended himself in court against charges of 'insulting the leadership' and 'collaborating with hostile governments'. According to the report, this union activist had previously suffered a broken fourth and fifth vertebra and spinal cord injury during his arrest by intelligence agents. Mr. Rashidi is currently free on bail. The sixth branch of the North Khorasan Court of Appeals has also confirmed a 20 million Toman fine for Mahmoud Safdari, a teachers' union activist. This ruling had previously been issued in the primary stage by the first branch of the Islamic Revolutionary Court of Bojnourd. This official of the teachers' organization in North Khorasan has been accused of 'disturbing public opinion through the dissemination of falsehoods' and 'propaganda against the regime'. Mahmoud Sediqipour, a board member of the Gilan Teachers' Trade Union, has also announced that he has filed a request for appeal regarding a new case against him. According to the Telegram channel of the Coordination Council of Teachers' Trade Unions of Iran, this retired teacher, after serving one year in prison at Lakan Prison in Rasht, has been sentenced to imprisonment and additional penalties for 'disturbing public order' and 'disobedience to police' in another case. Mr. Sediqipour, along with eight other members of the Gilan Teachers' Trade Union, has recently been sentenced by the third branch of the Islamic Revolutionary Court of this province to two years and one day in prison and deprivation of membership in political and social parties and groups. Reports indicate that in recent years, security and judicial pressures and the government's efforts to suppress teachers and union activists have intensified with the summoning and arrest of many teachers. Rasul Badaghi, Hashem Khasdar, Nahid Shirpish, Jafar Ebrahimi, Zeinab Hamrang, Javad Laleh Mohammadi, Mohammad Hossein Sepahri, and Ahmad Alizadeh are among the teachers currently imprisoned in the Islamic Republic. Explanations from 'Ms. Teacher Qayemshahri' about returning to work and then 'cancellation of selection' and re-expulsion from school. The Coordination Council of Teachers' Trade Unions of Iran stated that the issuance of judicial rulings will not hinder teachers' demands. Mohammad Moradi Nasari, a Kurdish teacher, was dismissed from work due to a 'negative inquiry from a security agency'. The Ministry of Education has issued warnings to teachers; using mobile phones in school is only permitted 'within the framework of education'.