Iranian Teacher Unionist Could be Executed Today
Education International (EI) has been informed that Farzad Kamangar, the Iranian Kurdish teacher and social worker sentenced to death on 25th February 2008 for endangering national security, could be hanged today. Reports suggest that he has been taken from his cell 121 in ward 209 of Tehran’s Evin prison in preparation for execution.
EI has noted that the last time Kamangar was seen, he was at the health clinic of Evin prison and his physical condition was poor. Kamangar has not been allowed to see his lawyer or family members for the past two months. EI has been appealing to the Iranian authorities to commute Kamangar’s death sentence and ensure his case is reviewed fairly.
BACKGROUND INFORMATION:
Farzad Kamangar was arrested in Tehran in July 2006 and held in various detention centres across the country. Kamangar claims that during a period of detention in the notorious Evin Prison, officials tortured him to such an extent that he had to be taken to the prison hospital to receive medical attention. Details of how he was tortured were discovered by Human Rights Watch in a secret letter sent by Kamangar from prison.
Kamangar worked for 12 years as a teacher in the city of Kamyaran, Iran, before he was arrested and placed in detention. He also sat on the governing board of both a local environmentalist group and the local branch of the teachers association. Kamangar wrote actively for the monthly journal Royan, a publication of the Department of Education of Kamyaran. He was also a writer with a local human rights organization that documents human rights abuses in Kurdistan and other provinces, Human Rights Watch have noted. The prosecution accused him of being a member of the Kurdistan Workers Party (PKK) and a threat to national security. Kamangars lawyer said that the trial did not conform to Iranian legal requirements - it was closed, with no jury present.
Education International and NEAR call on the Iranian authorities to immediately revoke the death sentence handed down to Farzad Kamangar. Please visit www.ei-ie.org/savefarzad today, to send a message to the Iranian government and to speak up for justice and respect for human rights.
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Alert - Iran
| Date: | 26 November 2008 |
| Source: | Education International |
| Classification: | NEAR Member |
| Violation: | Facing Execution |
| Affected Persons: | Farzad Kamangar |
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