Iranian Teacher Unionist Facing Imminent Execution

Education International has been informed that the Iranian authorities have threatened imminent execution of Kurdish activists, including teacher Farzad Kamangar. The Iranian-Kurdish teacher and social worker was sentenced to death on 25th February 2008 for supposedly “endangering national security.”

This latest threat of imminent execution comes during the recent crack-down on dissidents and opposition voices in Iran. Farzad has had very limited contact with his family, who have also been subject to harassment and threats. Education International has submitted his case to the UN Human Rights Council’s Universal Periodical Review on Iran which will take place on 15th February 2010.

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. Kamangar’s 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 commute the death sentence handed down to Farzad Kamangar.

RECOMMENDED ACTION:

Education International requests that appeals should be sent to the Iranian authorities immediately, urging them to:

1.) Review the case of Farzad Kamangar and to give further clarification about the charges against him and other teacher trade unionists currently detained;

2.) Commute Farzad’s death sentence;

3.) Desist from the use of torture;

4.) Allow Farzad Kamangar to have unimpeded contact with his family and his lawyer;

5.) Stop the harassment against the relatives of Farzad Kamangar and members of the Committee to Stop Farzad Kamangar’s Death Sentence;

6.) Be open for a peaceful dialogue regarding the professional concerns of teachers in Iran.

Education International also invites advocates to send an online message to the Iranian president to appeal for a review of the case of Farzad Kamangar. This can be done at the following address:

http://www.ei-ie.org/en/urgentactionappeal/show.php?id=12&country=iran

APPEALS TO:

President, Islamic Republic of Iran
His Excellency Mahmoud Ahmadinejad
Palestine Avenue, Azerbaijan Intersection
Tehran 13168-43311
Islamic Republic of Iran
E-mail: dr-ahmadinejad@president.ir  

Chief of State
His Excellency Ayatollah Sayed Ali Khamenei,
The Office of the Supreme Leader
Islamic Republic Street - Shahid Keshvar Doust Street,
Tehran
Islamic Republic of Iran
E-Mail: info@leader.ir  

Minister of Justice
Ayatollah Mahmoud Hashemi Shahroudi
Office of the Head of Justice
Pasteur St., Vali Asr Ave., South of Serah-e Jomhouri
Tehran 13168-14737
Islamic Republic of Iran
E-Mail: info@dadgostary-tehran.ir  

Please also copy your letter to the Iranian embassy in your country (in some countries, like the USA, the Embassy of Pakistan looks after the interests of the Islamic Republic of Iran), as well as to EI (headoffice@ei-ie.org or fax +32 2 224 0606)

For additional information or to discuss possible action, contact the EI Human and Trade Union Rights Coordinator at headoffice@ei-ie.org or +32 2 224 0680

PLEASE ALSO SEND COPIES OF YOUR APPEALS TO:

Programme Officer,
Network for Education and Academic Rights (NEAR),
90 London Road,
SE1 9LN
London, UK
Tel: +44 (0) 20 7021 0884
Fax: +44 (0) 20 7021 0881
contact@nearinternational.org  

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Alert - Iran

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