"Iran: Release teacher union leaders voicing legitimate workers’ demands!"

Education International (EI) calls on its member organisations to urge the authorities of the Islamic Republic of Iran to immediately and unconditionally release jailed Iranian teacher unionists and to respect trade union rights...

Since May Day 2022, several teacher union leaders have been unjustifiably arrested, detained, and tortured for conducting peaceful trade union activities authorised by national and international laws.

In recent weeks, Iranian authorities cracked down on teachers and their union representatives to suppress a resurgence of last year’s rallies as the first anniversary of the extrajudicial killing of Jina Mahsa Amini will be marked on 16 September...

Education International is particularly concerned about the situation of the following individuals, listed by affiliation to regional teacher associations. All provincial and county teachers’ associations belong to the national umbrella Coordinating Council of Iranian Teachers’ Trade Associations, which is EI’s affiliate...

These union leaders have faced a series of severe violations of their rights since May 2022, including:

• Dismissals from teaching positions
• Demotions and salary reductions
• Arrests and detentions, often in solitary confinement for extended periods
• Torture to extract false confessions and force renunciation of union work.
• Prolonged detention beyond the initial prison sentences...