Spokesperson of Tehran Teachers' Union Summoned for Prison Sentence Execution

Ramin Safarnia Kheshtavani, lawyer for Mohammad Habibi, spokesperson of the Tehran Teachers' Union, announced on Tuesday, November 15, that his client has been summoned to the execution office in Shahriyar County to serve his prison sentence. He wrote on the social media platform 'X' that his client 'has been summoned to the first execution office in Shahriyar to serve a sentence of 6 months and 1 day of imprisonment, which was issued by the second branch of the Islamic Revolutionary Court of Shahriyar and confirmed in branch 36 of the appeals court.' Mr. Habibi also wrote on social media: 'Next week, I will go to prison to serve my sentence regarding protests against the serial poisonings in schools.' In this context, the Coordinating Council of Iranian Teachers' Unions stated: 'Mohammad Habibi goes to prison while the perpetrators and instigators of the serial poisonings have never been identified.' Previously, this council condemned the appeals court ruling in a statement on October 25, noting that this conviction relates to Habibi's protests against the serial poisonings in schools in Esfand 1401 (March 2023). They highlighted that the significant aspect of the confirmation of the spokesperson's sentence was the smear campaign against him by accounts linked to fascist and security movements before the ruling was communicated to his lawyer, an action carried out by accounts that had previously attempted to undermine the teachers' movement through virtual programs in Esfand 1400 (March 2022). In recent years, Mohammad Habibi has been repeatedly arrested and imprisoned for his union activities and defense of teachers' and students' rights. This marks the fifth time this teachers' union activist has been imprisoned. The news of this teachers' union activist's summons has faced criticism from several social media users. In this regard, Siamak Farid, a political activist, wrote on social media: 'In a country where thieves and murderers govern, teachers and professors go to prison.' Another user named Zeynab wrote: 'It's really sad. Our teacher doesn't belong in prison.' Hasti Amiri, a student activist who was imprisoned for protesting the poisonings in schools, also wrote on social media: 'The instigators and perpetrators of the poisoning of girls' schools last year have never been identified, but the protesters received prison sentences. Now, next week, Mohammad Habibi will also go to prison. Additionally, it has been seven months since Zia Nabavi's imprisonment.' In recent years, administrative, security, and judicial actions against teachers and their union activists have intensified, drawing criticism from global unions and labor syndicates. A prison sentence was issued for a teachers' union activist in Yazd. The Iranian Teachers' Union Challenge Channel reported that as part of the ongoing repression of teachers, Mohammad Sadegh Fahimi, a teachers' union activist, was sentenced by the 11th branch of the Yazd appeals court to 3 years, 6 months, and 1 day of prison for the charge of 'collusion and conspiracy against national security,' with two years of the harsher penalty suspended for two years. According to this report, the remainder of Mr. Fahimi's sentence was converted to a monetary fine of 24 million tomans, considering the discount. This Telegram channel also stated that he was sentenced to 7 months and 16 days of prison for 'propaganda against the Islamic Republic,' and as an additional penalty, he was banned from leaving the country for 2 years and prohibited from participating in foreign messaging apps and activities in cyberspace for 2 years. The Iranian Teachers' Union Challenge Channel condemned the prison sentences, summonses, and case fabrications against union and civil activists, calling for the closure of all cases against union activists and stating: 'We consider any defense within the framework of existing laws for union activists our legal duty and right.' Summons of Mohsen Omrani for prison sentence execution. The Busher Teachers' Union announced that Mohsen Omrani, a board member of this organization, has been summoned to serve a 6-month prison sentence. He must report to the execution office by November 17. According to this report, simultaneously with the execution of sentences, a monetary fine of 96 million tomans was enforced against four members of the board of the Busher Teachers' Union, and they were asked to deposit this fine into the court account within 5 days. This teachers' union called for the cancellation of the prison sentence against Mohsen Omrani and the sentences against other colleagues, urging the government 'to lift the security atmosphere prevailing over civil institutions for the betterment of society and recognize them as part of the community.' The Tehran Teachers' Union condemned the dismissal of Ismail Abdi. The Tehran Teachers' Union issued a statement criticizing the 'project to suppress teachers' union activists,' condemning the dismissal and buyout of Ismail Abdi, a board member of this union. This union pointed out that 'the perpetrator of this disgraceful incident is a government that came to power with promises of changing policies and reforming education.' It added: 'In the short time since the presidency of the government of Pezeshkian, in addition to Ismail Abdi, teachers in other provinces and students of the Teacher Training University and Shahid Rajai Teacher Training University have also faced dismissal and prohibition from studying and teaching.' The statement noted that 'the issuance of such rulings indicates that the keyword of national unity is merely a cover for the continuation of the project to suppress civil institutions that has existed for the past forty years and peaked during the Raisi administration.' The Tehran Teachers' Union, referring to the security and judicial actions of the Islamic Republic against Mr. Abdi in recent years, wrote that his dismissal 'is part of the ongoing violence against teachers and the disregard for their legal rights, demonstrating the political elite's inability to solve societal problems and accept the criticisms and demands of teachers; dismissals are, in fact, an attempt to silence dissenting voices.' This statement emphasizes that 'this kind of repressive and illegal behavior is not only limited to the injustice against Ismail Abdi but also puts all teachers at risk. This approach, in reality, revives a dark history of repression and violence against inquiry and rationality.' This teachers' union expressed support for Ismail Abdi and all teachers and union activists who have been 'repressed for defending their rights and those of students,' calling for the cancellation of this 'illegal ruling and the reinstatement of all dismissed teachers,' and urged international labor, educational, and human rights organizations and the global community to 'pay attention to these injustices and act in support of teachers, students, workers, and retirees.' Repeated summons of Peyrooz Nami, a teachers' union activist from Khuzestan, to the Revolutionary Court. Education Ministry: 'Reading philosophical books and having a mustache' is prohibited. The Free Workers' Union of Iran: The freedom-seeking of teachers, university professors, and youth has been suppressed. Criticism from teachers' union associations in Iran regarding security and judicial actions against Mohammad Habibi and Ismail Abdi. The National Teachers' Organization condemned the continued repression of teachers' union activists under the Pezeshkian government. The National Teachers' Organization: Administrative violation committees continue to suppress teachers.