Temporary Release of Mohammad Habibi; Four Members of the Bushehr Teachers' Union Summoned

Mohammad Habibi, spokesperson for the Tehran Teachers' Union, was temporarily released from Evin Prison on Sunday after posting bail. Khadijeh Pakzamir, Mr. Habibi's wife, who announced his release in a tweet, told Shargh newspaper that Mohammad Habibi was freed after 47 days from Ward 209 of Evin Prison upon posting a bail of one billion tomans. In response to a question about the charges against her husband, she said, 'No specific instances have been announced, but Mohammad Habibi's activities on social media and his union activities have been considered as instances of charges of conspiracy and collusion.' She noted that the court session regarding her husband's charges was held on Saturday, stating, 'In Branch 2 of the Islamic Revolutionary Court of Shahriar County, the hearing for the charges of conspiracy and collusion against Mohammad Habibi was held with the presence of his defense attorney.' Khadijeh Pakzamir added, 'The judge listened to the defenses of Mohammad Habibi and his lawyer, and after reviewing the case and hearing the defenses, announced that the documents and evidence in the case were insufficient to prove the charges of conspiracy and collusion with the intent to undermine national security. Therefore, he returned the case from the court to the prosecutor's office.' Mohammad Habibi was arrested by security forces at school on May 6 and transferred to Ward 209 of Evin Prison. The spokesperson for the Tehran Teachers' Union has been arrested and imprisoned several times before. In this context, the Coordination Council of Iranian Teachers' Trade Unions welcomed Mr. Habibi's release and called for an end to 'the process of case-making and the unconditional release of all imprisoned teachers and activists.' Additionally, it was reported that four members of the Bushehr Teachers' Union will appear in the Islamic Revolutionary Court of the city on Tuesday, May 21. According to this report, Mahmoud Malaki, Asghar Hajeb, Abdolreza Amani Far, and Mohsen Omrani must respond to charges of 'actions against internal security, disturbing public order and comfort, and disobedience to an officer in the line of duty' following a summons sent to them. These four members of the Bushehr Teachers' Union were arrested by security forces on May 1, detained for several weeks, and subjected to prolonged interrogations by the intelligence officers of the police force, the Revolutionary Guards, and the Ministry of Intelligence. They were later released on bail. Other reports indicate ongoing arrests of teachers and civil activists, with several teachers being deprived of their ranks under the pretext of participating in protests. The situation of those detained remains unclear, and protests by teachers are ongoing in 22 cities.