Mohammad Moradi Nasari, Kurdish Teacher, Dismissed Due to 'Negative Inquiry' from a Security Agency

Mohammad Moradi Nasari, a Persian literature teacher in Sanandaj, says he was dismissed about four months after being hired due to a 'negative inquiry' from a security agency. This writer and poet from Ilam wrote in an Instagram post that after being contacted by the selection committee and questioned about his literary activities in the Kurdish language, he was informed that 'your inquiry from the security agency was negative, and you no longer have the right to attend class.' After 'final acceptance' in the teaching exam, he had officially started teaching literature in Sanandaj schools from November 1, as per the Ministry of Education's announcement. According to this PhD student in Persian language and literature at Kurdistan University, 'the salaries for several months of teaching will not be paid due to the lack of an employment decree!' His dismissal comes at a time when he emphasized that his activities, including publishing poetry books in Kurdish, participating in the Golavij festival, and interviewing about Kurdish language and literature, were conducted 'with the permission of the relevant cultural and artistic departments.' In part of his note, this Kurdish poet reported that his protest was fruitless, stating: 'Without receiving any rights on paper, I am left in limbo and effectively dismissed!' Mohammad Moradi Nasari emphasized his right to pursue the matter through the Administrative Justice Court, adding: 'Although in such times when there is a drought of kindness and chivalry, not being a teacher in this country might be a better choice!' The Hengaw Human Rights Organization condemned the 'language unity policy and the security perspective on the Kurdish language and other languages' in Iran on the occasion of International Mother Language Day on March 2. Previously, Javaid Rehman, the UN Special Rapporteur on human rights in Iran, stated at a meeting hosted by the Atlantic Council: 'Ethnic and religious minorities face organized persecution and harassment.' The enforcement of a one-year prison sentence for Sirwan Ebrahimi, a Kurdish language teacher in Sanandaj, was also noted. The Coordinating Council of Iranian Teachers' Trade Unions stated that judicial rulings will not hinder teachers' demands. The confirmation of the dismissal of Sara Siyahpour was reported by a teachers' union: 'Repressions will further ignite the hidden anger.' Idris Manbari and Sarveh PourMohammadi, civil activists in Sanandaj, were sentenced to 20 years in prison.