Reza Amani Far, a protesting teacher, member of the Board of Directors of the Bushehr Teachers’ Trade Association, and inspector of the Coordinating Council of Iranian Teachers’ Trade Associations, has remained in prison since April 2026.
Reza Amani Far suffers from polycystic kidney disease, a progressive condition. He requires regular follow-up by a specialist, periodic medical tests, and continuous medical care. Over the past seven months, he has been transferred to a medical clinic only once, and even then, in handcuffs and shackles.
The Coordinating Council of Iranian Teachers’ Trade Associations, while reporting this case and condemning the continued imprisonment of this protesting teacher, has emphasized:
“Responsibility for any harm to his health resulting from delays in treatment or denial of medical care rests directly with the judicial and security authorities responsible for making these decisions.”
Reza Amani Far must be released immediately and unconditionally and provided with urgent medical treatment.
In addition to Reza Amani Far, several other teachers are also imprisoned, including Hashem Khastar, Javad Lal Mohammadi, Masoud Farhikhteh, Siamak Sadeghi Chehraz i, Aman Jalalinejad, Ali Ahmadi, Abolfazl Khoran, and Alireza Mordasi.
Aman Jalalinejad has been imprisoned in Sheiban Prison in Ahvaz since April 8, 2024. His court hearing was held at Branch 3 of the Ahvaz Revolutionary Court on March 10, 2025, but the authorities have so far refused to issue a verdict or change his detention order. Previously, in the final week of March 2026, he was acquitted unconditionally by Branch 21 of the Court of Appeal of the charges brought against him in a criminal case for which he had been sentenced to three years and six months in prison. Reports indicate that his physical condition is deteriorating.
Alireza Mordasi, a teacher from Ahvaz with 25 years of teaching experience, is another imprisoned teacher. He has been held in Sheiban Prison in Ahvaz since August 3, 2023.
Mordasi was previously sentenced to two death sentences and one year of imprisonment, alongside two co-defendants in the same case, Masoud Jamei and Farshad Etemadifar, by Branch 1 of the Ahvaz Revolutionary Court. The charges against them included “corruption on earth” (efsad fel-arz), “membership in anti-state groups,” and “propaganda against the state.” In June 2026, this criminal and inhumane sentence was upheld by the Supreme Court.
In its statement regarding this case, the Coordinating Council of Iranian Teachers’ Trade Associations condemned the climate of intimidation, repression, and executions, particularly in the aftermath of the war. It called for an end to the issuance and implementation of death sentences and urged all opponents of capital punishment to unite their voices and efforts to put an end to the ongoing executions and abolish the death penalty.
Hashem Khastar, another imprisoned retired teacher, is a longtime political prisoner. He was arrested in August 2019 during a protest gathering outside the Revolutionary Court in Mashhad and has remained in Vakilabad Prison in Mashhad ever since.
Reports indicate that this imprisoned teacher is being denied adequate access to medical services and is subjected to poor sanitary conditions, restrictions on access to books and writing materials, and ongoing security-related pressure.
Hashem Khastar, who has devoted decades of his life to education, defending teachers’ rights, advocating free education, and promoting civil liberties, has also faced new cases being opened against him during his imprisonment, denial of temporary leave, and extensive restrictions on contact with his family.
Teachers constitute one of the protesting sectors of society. Because of their social role and their history of activism, they have consistently been subjected to severe security pressure. In addition to those already imprisoned, many other teachers currently outside prison are also at risk of arrest and imprisonment because of security-related cases brought against them.
Teachers have consistently raised their voices in protest on behalf of society as a whole, demanding free, high-quality, non-ideological, and non-class-based education. Their slogans include:
“Livelihood, dignity, and status are our fundamental rights.”
“No to executions, yes to life.”
One of the major campaigns led by teachers is the campaign against the securitization of labor and social struggles. Its specific demands include the closure of all security-related cases against teachers and political prisoners, the release of imprisoned teachers, and the freedom of all political prisoners and detained protesters.
Let us support teachers’ protests. Through nationwide protests, let us open the prison gates
Free Them Now
Novemeber 7, 2026