Mohammad Habibi, Spokesperson of the Teachers' Trade Association of Tehran, Tried Again

Mohammad Habibi, the spokesperson for the Teachers' Trade Association of Tehran, appeared with his lawyer at the Islamic Revolutionary Court in Shahriyar to defend himself against charges related to protests over the serial poisoning of students. On Saturday, July 9, he wrote in a note on the social media platform 'X' that he defended his statements regarding the protests against the serial poisoning of students in court. This teachers' rights activist emphasized the rights of students, stating: 'I believe that one of the main duties of any teachers' rights activist is, while supporting livelihood demands, to defend the rights of students and stand firm in this path.' This case relates to Habibi's arrest in Farvardin 1402 (March-April 2023), and according to him, he has been tried once before in this regard. Habibi's lawyer also reported a change in the charge from 'conspiracy and collusion' to 'propaganda against the regime.' Ramin Safarnia Kheshtani wrote on 'X' that the hearing for his client, Mohammad Habibi, took place in the second branch of the Islamic Revolutionary Court in Shahriyar, and the charge was changed from conspiracy and collusion to propaganda against the regime. The lawyer did not provide an explanation for the reason behind the change in the charges against Habibi. Previously, Habibi criticized the arrest and trial of protesters against the serial poisoning of students, writing: 'While the perpetrators of those incidents have never been held accountable, people like me, Zia Nabavi, and Hasti Amiri must pay the price for our rightful protests.' The poisoning of students in predominantly girls' schools began in the winter of 1401 (2022-2023) and continued for months across Iran. Despite the danger to the lives of thousands of students, the source of the incidents was ultimately attributed to 'stinky bombs.' In a report by the Ministry of Intelligence of the Islamic Republic regarding the cause of the poisonings, while hundreds of students were hospitalized across Iran, it was emphasized that the students' 'illness' was due to 'jokes and feigning' and pursued 'anti-security' goals. Iranian intelligence and judicial institutions have arrested several protesters against the serial poisoning of students. Summoning a teacher on charges of 'conspiracy and collusion'; Mohammad Habibi: I have been tried once for this case. Continued pressure on teachers; dismissal due to an Instagram post. Release of Mostafa Rabati, a member of the Teachers' Trade Association; after violent arrest. Teachers' trade organization: The era of Ebrahim Raisi was one of the 'darkest' stains in the sky of education. Mohammad Habibi: 'Normalizing street presence' is an achievement of the teachers' movement; we must target the 'poverty line.'