In recent weeks, security pressures on protesting teachers and workers in Iran have escalated sharply.
Masoud Farhikhteh, an imprisoned teacher and advocate for children’s rights and free education, has spent six days in solitary confinement after supporting the “No to Execution” Tuesday hunger strikes. Arrested in September during a teachers’ council meeting, he is serving a sentence of three years and six months in Karaj Central Prison.
Amirhossein Mirbahari, children-rights defender and co-founder of the Society for the Protection of Working and Street Children, has been detained for over a month with a bail of 5 billion tomans. In a recent statement marking November 25, he emphasized the need to realize the demands of the “Woman, Life, Freedom” movement to end discrimination and violence against women.
Younes Azadbar, labor activist from Gilan and organizer of weekly protests in Rasht, has been ordered to report to prison to serve his sentence of over 22 months for “propaganda against the state” and “insulting the Supreme Leader.” He has faced repeated arrests over four decades.
Zhāleh Rouhzad, retired teacher and long-time activist, faces yet another security case and has been issued a 700-million-toman bail on charges of “propaganda against the state.” Teachers’ unions have condemned the continued criminalization of civil activism.
Mehdi Farahi Shandiz, a teacher who has spent more than twelve years in prison over political accusations, remains detained since May 1. He has begun a hunger strike in solidarity with three Azerbaijani political prisoners protesting unfair legal proceedings. Families have expressed concern for the prisoners’ health.
Siamak Sadeqi Chehrazi, teacher activist in Khuzestan, has been summoned to serve a sentence involving a monetary fine.
Teacher activists report a surge in case fabrication, prison sentences, financial penalties, and professional suspensions—measures used to suppress legitimate labor and civil demands. A nationwide campaign calls for the dismissal of all security cases and the immediate, unconditional release of all imprisoned teachers, workers, and political detainees.
Morteza Saydi, an imprisoned worker in Evin, has been returned to the general ward after a week in solitary confinement, imposed following his protest against the transfer of a death-row prisoner.
Free Them Now (FTN)