Hundreds of Political and Civil Activists: The Policy of Suppressing Cultural Elites in Iran Continues

More than 600 writers, teachers, artists, and political and civil activists inside and outside Iran signed a statement protesting the court ruling against Ahmad Derakhshan, a teacher and writer, deeming it indicative of the government's insistence on continuing the policy of suppressing cultural elites. The statement, a copy of which was obtained by VOA, states: In recent months, following the presidential elections, we have witnessed an increase in the repression of intellectuals and social activists. Despite the government's promise of 'national reconciliation', administrative violation committees continue to engage in security confrontations with progressive teachers, and the judiciary continues to issue and enforce unjust sentences using previous methods. The signatories pointed out that Mr. Derakhshan was sentenced in the second branch of the Islamic Revolutionary Court of Karaj to one year in prison, two years of teaching prohibition, a travel ban, and removal from public jobs. Hundreds of signatories wrote: This unjust ruling against a beloved teacher and author of works such as the novels 'Five Chapters in the Return of Salim and Dualpa' and 'Mah Mani' reflects the government's insistence on continuing the policy of suppressing cultural elites. The statement assessed the outcome of this dangerous approach as the disillusionment of concerned thinkers in Iran and the exacerbation of crises that have disrupted our political and social life. The signatories of this statement, while protesting this ruling, emphasized: We expect the appellate court to annul this unjust ruling to prevent the violation of Ahmad Derakhshan's rights and the increasing despair of elites and the public regarding such rulings. Among the signatories are Taghi Asadian, Maryam Afraz, Ali Afshari, Shahram Iqbalzadeh, Omid Aghdami, Sanaz Elahiari, Hoshyar Ansarifar, Hanieh Bakhtiar, Hojjat Badaghi, Koukb Badaghi, Amin Bozorgian, Azadeh Balash, Yadollah Baladi, Mahmoud Beheshti Langroudi, Alireza Behnam, Mohammad Parvin, Milad Pour-Eyssi, Hirad Pirbadaghi, Sepideh Jadidi, Amir Chamani, Atefeh Chaharmahaliyan, Mehrdad Hojjati, Siavash Razani, Atefeh Rangriz, and Zhaleh Rouhzad. This statement has also been signed by Nasim Soltanbeigi, Fatemeh Shams, Reza Shahabi, Khosrow Sadeghi Boroujeni, Raheleh Tarani, Ehsan Abadi, Sadra Abdollahi, Ismail Abdi, Aziz Qasemzadeh, Milad Fadaei Asl, Masoud Farhikhteh, Farangis Qashqai, Javad Mojabi, Shokat Mohammadi, Nafiseh Moradi, Dariush Memar, Khadijeh Moghadam, Rezvan Moghadam, Saideh Montazeri, Mahshid Nazemi, Ali Nejati, Reza Najafi, Akram Nasirian, Shiva Nazari Ahari, Saleh Nikbakht, and Hangameh Hoveyda. Earlier, the Coordinating Council of Teachers' Trade Associations of Iran announced on December 27 that the repression of teachers continues; it condemned the one-year prison sentence and social prohibitions such as the prohibition from teaching for Ahmad Derakhshan. Mr. Derakhshan had previously been interrogated and prosecuted on October 7 of this year on charges of 'propaganda against the regime'. He then reported that he had been summoned to Branch 13 of the Public and Revolutionary Prosecutor's Office of Karaj and, by publishing the summons on his 'Instagram' account, wrote that he had also been interrogated regarding the charge of 'propaganda activities against the Islamic Republic and spreading falsehoods through computers' and must appear in court to defend against these allegations. According to the Coordinating Council of Teachers' Trade Associations of Iran, the ruling issued against Ahmad Derakhshan indicates the continuation of systematic pressures on teachers and social activists.