Opposition to the Continuation of Medical Leave for Aziz Qasemzadeh; Spokesperson of the Teachers' Union of Gilan Transferred to Prison

Aziz Qasemzadeh, the spokesperson for the Teachers' Union of Gilan, a teacher and imprisoned artist who was on medical leave, was transferred to Lakan Prison in Rasht on Wednesday, January 10, after officials opposed the continuation of his leave. Flor Qasemzadeh, Aziz's sister, announced this news on her Instagram page, stating: 'Judicial authorities have opposed the continuation of Aziz's medical leave while he is facing a worsening illness and, according to his treating physician, he was supposed to undergo medical examination and evaluation again at the end of January. Now, with the opposition to extending his leave, his treatment process has been halted.' Aziz Qasemzadeh, a prominent cultural and educational activist currently held in Lakan Prison for a political case, was permanently dismissed from the Education Ministry on September 8. With 25 years of experience in education, he was previously sentenced to one year in prison by the Third Branch of the Revolutionary Court in Rasht for 'propaganda against the regime' and was sent to Lakan Prison on April 8 to serve his sentence. Participation in teachers' union gatherings, singing at protest gatherings, and giving interviews to foreign news networks are among the charges against this teacher. Qasemzadeh has called for the student and teacher council to be democratic, showing solidarity with imprisoned teachers; he has demanded the immediate release of Jafar Ebrahimi. Hashem Khashtar, another imprisoned teacher, has been tried again. Aziz Qasemzadeh was permanently expelled from the Education Ministry. The Minister of Education stated that there needs to be consideration for teachers' activities in cyberspace. There has been three weeks of uncertainty regarding Aziz Qasemzadeh; there is a request for this labor activist to be returned to Lakan Prison.