Μετά από σχετική εισήγηση της Educational International, η ΠΟΕΔ απέστειλε επιστολή προς τον Ανώτατο Ηγέτη του Ιράν ζητώντας την απελευθέρωση Ιρανών συνδικαλιστών οι οποίοι/ες συνελήφθησαν ενώ διαμαρτύρονταν ειρηνικά και παραμένουν φυλακισμένοι/ες εδώ και αρκετές βδομάδες. Παραθέτουμε αυτούσια την επιστολή πιο κάτω.

 

His Excellency Ayatollah Sayed ‘Ali Khamenei

Supreme Leader of the Islamic Republic of Iran

 

Subject: Free jailed Iranian teacher unionists

Your Excellency,

We are writing to you on behalf of POED to condemn the recent arrest of dozens of Iranian teacher unionists for conducting peaceful activities covered by international laws. We demand their immediate and unconditional release.

For years, Iranian teachers have been voicing their legitimate demands for decent working conditions and the recognition of their fundamental rights and freedoms as workers and as citizens.

The right to peaceful assembly and the right of association are fundamental to all societies. The arrest and detention of union activists exercising these rights are a blatant abuse of power and are in violation of ILO Convention 87 on freedom of association and the protection of the right to organise, and Convention 98 on the right to organise and collective bargaining. The government of Iran must address legitimate popular demands through dialogue and policy, not through repression. 

Since May Day, a date meant to celebrate workers around the world, dozens of teachers have been unjustifiably arrested in various cities. On June 16, the Iranian authorities cracked down again on peaceful teachers’ gatherings, arresting many more teachers.

POED is particularly concerned about the recent arrest and detention of many representatives of the Teachers’ Trade Associations all over the country. These are dedicated educators committed to the education and wellbeing of students and the next generation of Iranians. These include Jafar Ebrahimi, Mohammad Habibi, Eskandar Lotfi, Rasoul Bodaghi, Asghar Amirzadegan, Mohammad Alishvandi, Mohammad Ali Zahmatkesh, Abdolrazaq Amiri, Mehrdad Yaghmaei, Hamid Abbasi, Gholamreza Gholami Kondazi, Hadi Sadeghzadeh, Iraj Rahnama, Majid Karimi, Masoud Farhikhteh, Iraj Ansari, Vahid Goodarzi, Salah Azadi, Shaban Mohamamdi and Masoud Nikkhah.

We also join the reiterated call of education unionists worldwide for the release of Esmail Abdi, former leader of the Tehran Teacher Association, who has been condemned until 2031 on fake charges. The long imprisonment and ill treatment he suffered in detention have severely affected his health and his family.

POED calls on the Iranian Government to:

 

• - Unconditionally release and drop all charges against Iranian trade unionists detained for union related demands; 
• - Respect and uphold the rights and freedoms of teachers and education workers, without fear of intervention by the authorities; 
• - Institutionalise dialogue with representative organisations of teachers and education personnel on issues related to the education policy and teachers; 
• - Respect the rights and privacy of the family members of the imprisoned leaders and ensure their safety and wellbeing. 

POED looks forward to hearing about your prompt intervention on this serious matter. In the meantime, we will continue to closely monitor the situation of teacher trade unionists in Iran.

Yours sincerely,

The President                                                             The General Secretary

 

 

 

Myria Vasileiou                                                              Charis Charalambous