Detained Teachers in the UAE Remain in Prison

The court hearing for 22 Iranian teachers that was scheduled for Monday, October 20, in the United Arab Emirates has been postponed, and 9 male teachers remain imprisoned in the country. According to ISNA, about a week ago, 9 male and 13 female Iranian teachers were arrested in the Al Ain region of Abu Dhabi for lacking 'business cards and work permits.' While the female teachers have been released on bail, the male teachers are still in custody. Khalilollah Babalu, head of the 'International Affairs and Schools Abroad' center at Iran's Ministry of Education, stated on Sunday that the 9 male teachers would also be released on Monday. However, Fars News reported, citing an 'informed source,' that '13 female teachers' have been summoned and 'may be detained.' In response to this report, Rasoul Papaei, deputy for public relations at the Ministry of Education, strongly denied it in an interview with ISNA, calling the complaint from the Al Ain labor office against these teachers a 'pretext.' According to Mr. Papaei, the UAE government has granted an official license to the Iranian-run schools operating under the Islamic Republic of Iran's embassy, allowing Iran to engage in schooling and educational activities in the country. He added that 'Iranian teachers have been teaching in Al Ain in this manner with UAE visas for years without any issues.' Mr. Papaei also reported that Iranian education officials in the UAE have met with judicial authorities in Abu Dhabi. On Sunday, October 19, Iran's Foreign Ministry summoned the UAE chargé d'affaires in the absence of the country's ambassador, demanding the 'immediate release' of these teachers. Fars News reported that the UAE police arrested these 9 Iranian teachers last Wednesday 'in a very unfavorable condition with handcuffs.' On Monday, one of the teachers from the Iranian school in Al Ain told Fars News that these teachers are in 'bad' condition and that their hair has been 'shaved.'