Iran: EI draws attention of the UN Human Rights Council to the situation of teacher unionists
In consultation with the Coordinating Council of Iranian Teacher Trade Associations, EI submitted an allegation to the UN Human Rights Council under the Universal Periodic Review (UPR).
The UPR is a new UN mechanism which started in April 2008 to review the human rights practices of all States in the world, once every four years. The human rights record of the Islamic Republic of Iran will be reviewed in the 7th session of the Human Rights Council in February 2010.
In its submission, EI highlighted the inconsistency of Iranian law and practice with internationally recognised human rights standards. EI raised concerns about restrictions to freedom of association, assembly and expression for teachers, the inadequate rule of law and human rights protection, as well as the torture of union activists; and the death penalty.
Since 2007, teacher union activists face regular harassment by the Ministry of Interior secret police officers, backed up by ordinary police officers and officials of the local administration.
Currently EI is very concerned about the fate of Farzad Kamangar, Sajad Khaksari and Jafar Ebrahimi-Azandaryani. Kamangar is a 35-year old teacher and member of the Kurdestan Iranian teacher association. Charged with “enmity with God”, Kamangar was sentenced to death penalty in a trial not in accordance with Iranian and international standards. Kamangar who has been tortured several times since he was imprisoned in July 2006 is still on death row in the Evin prison. Sajad Khaksari is the editor of the now banned teacher publication Pen. He was condemned to 18 months detention for having covered teacher protests in April 2007 and again in April 2009 and for having taken pictures of the of the National Inspection Organisation. Sajad is the son of two leaders of the teacher association ITTA. Also detained in Evin is Jafar Ebrahimi-Azandaryani, a human rights activist and a member of the teacher association. Reports indicate he was refused medical treatment for his anxiety attacks. He has difficulty breathing and is not able to move his right leg. Ebrahimi is detained without arraignment.
EI believes the arrest, detention and condemnation of teacher unionists because of their trade union activities are not only serious violations of human rights, but also create an atmosphere of fear prejudicial to civil society development in Iran.
