Iran: Some teachers released, others remain in prison
Mohammad-Reza Rezaie-Garakani was freed on 21 October and Sajad Khaksari was freed on 24 October, 2009. Both of them are now out of prison but are still awaiting trial.
Rasoul Bodaghi is still in detention in Evin Prison and the Coordinating Council of Iranian teacher assocations hope he will be freed very soon. His lawyer Khalil Bahramian says his legal dossier has been sent to the public prosecutor for judgment.
Farzad Kamangar, who is accused of acting against the security of the country, remains in Evin Prison, despite what his lawyer says it a total lack of evidence against him. His proceedings will be sent to the Supreme Court for final judgment. Kamangar's physical and psychological conditons have improved. Although he suffers being in prison, he is doing his best to study and master international law.
Hashem Khastar, a retired teacher and a trade union activist, has been condemned to two years imprisonment for acting against the security of the country and is still in Wakilabad prison in Mashhad. Khastar is suffering kidney disease and has not been allowed to receive medical treatment.
Jaafar Ebrahimi has been detained in Evin Prison since his arrest on 10 June 2009 on the doorstep of the school where he was teaching in Shahryar town, Tehran province. Relatives were not allowed to visit him in prison. His dossier is handled by the Revolution Court at the moment. He was once suspended from teaching for a whole term, and suffered sanctions on his salary payments. He was also beaten once for having attended a teachers' assembly. Ebrahimi's physical situation is worrying: he has respiratory and digestion problems, as well as lumbago and problems with his neck. His lawyer, Mr. Owliyaeefar, is trying to get him a health certificate, which would allow him to be freed from detention on bail.
On 5 October 2009, World Teachers Day, 110 teachers signed a petition requesting Mr Ebrahimi’s release. The petition was submitted to Mr. Larijani, the head of the faculty of justice.
EI continues to monitor the situation of teachers in Iran closely.
