With the continued lack of news about Aziz Qasemzadeh, who was transferred from Lakan Prison to an unknown location more than three weeks ago, concerns about the status of this imprisoned teacher have increased. Aziz Qasemzadeh, a board member and spokesperson for the Gilan Teachers' Association, has been serving a one-year prison sentence since April 8 alongside Mahmoud Sedighi-Pour and Anoush Adeli. He had previously faced 'contact restrictions and visitation bans.' The Coordination Council of Iranian Teachers' Trade Associations expressed concern on Tuesday, May 15, about the ongoing lack of information regarding this political prisoner, stating that since April 12, not only is there no information about Aziz Qasemzadeh's place of detention, but he has also had 'no brief contact' with his family. According to this report, the continued lack of news has heightened the anxiety of 'family and friends, especially the elderly mother' of Aziz Qasemzadeh. This labor organization has called on judicial and security officials to cease 'such a trend' and return this activist to Lakan Prison. Currently, teacher rights activists including Mohammad Hossein Sepehri, Masoud Farhikhteh, Farzaneh Nazaranpour, Mehdi Fathi, Rasoul Badaghi, Jafar Ebrahimi, Mohammad Habibi, Ismail Abdi, Hashem Khaastaar, Hossein Ramadanpour, Omid Shah-Mohammadi, Mohammad Ghanati, Mohsen Omrani, Ahmad Heydari, and Shahnaz Hashemi are imprisoned. Mohammad Hossein Sepehri, a imprisoned teacher and one of the signatories of the 14th statement calling for Ali Khamenei's resignation and a transition from the Islamic Republic, in an open letter from Vakilabad Prison in Mashhad, likened the Islamic Republic to a '40-year widespread plague' and emphasized the necessity of continuing the struggle against the Iranian government, writing: 'If we do not stop this regime, perhaps in the near future, Iran will no longer exist.'
Three Weeks of Uncertainty for Aziz Qasemzadeh; Request to Return This Labor Activist to Lakan Prison
Aziz Qasemzadeh, a teacher and labor activist, has been missing for over three weeks after being transferred from Lakan Prison, raising concerns about his safety. His organization has called for his return to prison and highlighted the plight of other imprisoned teachers. This situation underscores ongoing repression of labor rights activists in Iran.
👥 Key Players
📰 What Happened
Aziz Qasemzadeh, a labor activist, has been missing for over three weeks after being transferred from Lakan Prison to an unknown location. His absence has raised concerns about his safety and the treatment of political prisoners in Iran.
- Aziz Qasemzadeh has not been in contact with his family since April 12.
- The Coordination Council of Iranian Teachers' Trade Associations has demanded his return to Lakan Prison.
💡 Why It Matters
📚 Background
Iran has a history of detaining and silencing labor activists, particularly those advocating for teachers' rights, as part of broader efforts to suppress dissent.
Translated from the original and edited for English readers. View original source →
Translation confidence: 85%