Teachers’ Union Activist Mohammad-Ali Zahmatkesh Arrested

HRANA – Yesterday, Tuesday, April 14, Mohammad-Ali Zahmatkesh, a teachers’ union activist in Fars Province, was arrested by security forces in Shiraz.

According to a report by the Coordinating Council of Iranian Teachers’ Trade Associations, Mohammad-Ali Zahmatkesh was arrested in Shiraz. Based on this report, the arrest of this teachers’ union activist took place yesterday, Tuesday, April 14, at his private residence by security forces.

As of the time of this report, no information has been obtained regarding the reasons for his arrest or his place of detention.

Zahmatkesh had previously been arrested and convicted due to his union activities.

Appeals Court Upholds Prison Sentence of Teachers’ Union Activist Mohammad Hassan Davoudi

HRANA – The prison sentence of Mohammad Hassan Davoudi, a teachers’ union activist, has been upheld in full by Branch 23 of the West Azerbaijan Province Appeals Court. He had previously been sentenced by the Miandoab Revolutionary Court to three years, four months, and two days in prison.

The ruling was issued on December 15 by Branch 23 of the West Azerbaijan Province Appeals Court and was recently communicated to him. Based on the verdict, Mr. Davoudi was sentenced to seven months and 16 days of discretionary imprisonment on the charge of “propaganda against the regime,” and to 32 months and 16 days in prison on the charge of “membership in anti-regime groups,” amounting in total to three years, four months, and two days of imprisonment. Pursuant to Article 134 of the Islamic Penal Code, the harsher sentence, 32 months and 16 days of imprisonment, will be enforceable.

In November of this year, the initial ruling had been issued by Rasoul Hejbarzadeh, a judge of the Miandoab Revolutionary Court, stationed at Branch 103 of Criminal Court Two of the city.

Mr. Davoudi was arrested by security forces in Miandoab in October-November 2022. He was ultimately released on bail after two months in detention.

Mohammad Hassan Davoudi, a teachers’ union activist residing in Miandoab, has previously faced arrests and judicial actions due to his activities.

Teachers’ Union Activist Mohammad Habibi Receives Six Months in Prison

Mohammad Habibi, spokesperson for the Tehran Teachers’ Trade Association, has been sentenced to six months and one day in prison by Branch 2 of the Shahriar Revolutionary Court.

Based on a verdict issued on July 21 by Branch 2 of the Shahriar Revolutionary Court and communicated to Mr. Habibi, he has been sentenced to six months and one day in prison for “propaganda against the regime.” The court session for addressing Mohammad Habibi’s charges was held on June 29 of this year in the aforementioned branch.

On April 5, 2023, Habibi was arrested at his workplace in Tehran by security agents due to his protest posts regarding the serial poisoning attacks on schools across the country. He was eventually released on May 20 of the same year from Ward 209 of Evin Prison after posting bail.

It is worth noting that this spokesperson for the Teachers’ Trade Association was previously arrested by security forces in Tehran on April 30, 2022, ahead of Teacher Appreciation Week in Iran and a protest gathering of educators. He was released from Evin Prison on February 8 of the following year.

In October 2022, he was sentenced by Branch 26 of the Tehran Revolutionary Court to three years and seven months in prison for “assembly and collusion against national security,” one year for “propaganda against the regime,” a two-year ban on activities and membership in groups, and a travel ban.

Habibi has a history of arrests and convictions due to his activities.

Teachers Union Activist Masoud Farhikhteh Sentenced

The Criminal Court of Tehran has sentenced Masoud Farhikhteh, a member of the Islamshahr Teachers Trade Association, to one year imprisonment and 74 lashes, which was suspended for two years.

According to HRANA, the news agency of Human Rights Activists, quoting the Coordination Council of Iranian Teachers’ Trade Associations, Masoud Farhikhteh was sentenced to one year suspended prison sentence and flagellation on the charge of “disturbing public order.”

In the trial, participation in “illegal gatherings” was presented as evidence to support the above-mentioned charge.

On Thursday, May 13, 2022, during the teachers’ protests in various cities in Iran, several protestors including Farhikhteh were arrested. On June 8, Farhikhteh was released on bail until the end of legal proceedings.

Teachers Union Activist Aziz Ghasemzadeh Arrested in Gilan

On Sunday, September 26, Aziz Ghasemzadeh, the spokesman of the Gilan Teachers and Education Staffs union, was arrested at his father’s house.

According to HRANA, the news agency of Human Rights Activists, quoting Coordination Council of Iranian Education Associations’ channel,  agents searched the house and confiscated Mr. Ghasemzadeh’s personal belongings during the arrest.

As of this writing, the whereabouts of the detainee and the charges against him are unknown.

 

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