Teachers' Guild Council: Issuance of Judicial Sentences is a Sign of Government Desperation

The Coordination Council of Iranian Teachers' Guilds announced that Masoud Farhikhteh, a teachers' union activist, has been sentenced to 6 years in prison and a 2-year travel ban by the Second Branch of the Islamic Revolutionary Court of Karaj. The council emphasized that such rulings against teachers are 'a clear sign of the government's desperation.' In the statement, it was noted that 'in the continuation of a new wave of security pressures on union activists, Masoud Farhikhteh has been sentenced by the Second Branch of the Revolutionary Court of Karaj for propaganda against the regime (one year) and for conspiracy to commit crimes against internal security (five years), along with a two-year travel ban and restrictions on participating in social groups and movements, as well as prohibitions on movement in the provinces of Alborz, Tehran, Qazvin, Lorestan, and Kurdistan.' According to the council, Farhikhteh was accused of chanting slogans such as 'Sattar Beheshti' and 'Tomaaj Salehi must be freed,' and 'Our rights can only be obtained in the streets.' The union also added that Farhikhteh was charged with possessing a list of those killed in the protests of 2022, along with their addresses and dates of death, and for allegedly inciting opposition groups to gather and conduct propaganda against the Islamic Republic. He was also accused of traveling multiple times to the provinces of Kurdistan and Lorestan to visit the families of Mahsa (Zhina) Amini and Nika Shakerami, attending their graves, and expressing solidarity with them. Farhikhteh had previously been arrested and imprisoned by government forces. The Coordination Council of Iranian Teachers' Guilds strongly condemned this 'unjust ruling and other repressive sentences,' warning that 'the continuation of this trend of repression and intimidation of union activists and teachers will only increase public anger and dissatisfaction.' This union emphasized the legitimate right of union activists to freedom of expression and activity, stating that these rulings are not only illegal and invalid but also a clear sign of the government's desperation in the face of the rightful demands of the people. The nationwide teachers' organization in Iran concluded its statement by calling for the immediate annulment of the 'unjust ruling' against Masoud Farhikhteh and the cessation of the 'repression machine' against teachers and union activists, holding the government responsible for any consequences of continued such behaviors. Meanwhile, Jaafar Ebrahimi, a teachers' union activist, wrote on the Telegram channel of the Coordination Council of Iranian Teachers' Guilds on Monday, January 24, that 'after the widespread protests of teachers in 2021, part of the repression project was handed over by security institutions to the Ministry of Education and the disciplinary committees.' He identified the goal of this action, which 'led to the dismissal of a significant number of teachers, especially female teachers,' as an 'attack on the livelihoods and jobs' of protesting teachers. Ebrahimi pointed out that 'over the past 25 years, the issuance of prison sentences, dismissals, and exiles against teachers by the judiciary has not ceased,' adding that 'but for a four-year period, the Ministry of Education directly took on the task of repression. This trend did not stop with changes in governments from Rouhani to Raisi and then to Behzadi, and during this time, we have witnessed numerous rulings of dismissal, suspension, and expulsion for teachers.' He noted that 'in the new wave of repression, we see that security forces, in collaboration with the judiciary and the issuance of heavy sentences against union activists, are seeking to further suppress teachers and marginalize their movement from Khuzestan to Alborz.' Currently, several teachers' union activists are in the prisons of the Islamic Republic on security charges, while others are free on bail. Protests by Maryam Shirmardi, a teachers' union activist: 'Why do you lie so much? What do you think of us?' The Tehran Bus Workers' Syndicate called for the release of union and civil activists. Emphasis of labor and retirees' organizations on 'joint struggle' for improving livelihoods. Government claims regarding changes in the 'selection' process for teachers. Sentencing of four teachers in Mamassani and summoning of seven union activists in Sanandaj. The national teachers' organization in Iran: repression of teachers continues.