Four Teachers’ Union Activists in Khuzestan Sentenced to a Total of 24 Years in Prison

Siamak Sadeghi Chehrazi, Kokab Bodaqi-Panah, Pirooz Nami, and Ali Koroushat, teachers’ union activists in Khuzestan, have been sentenced by the Ahvaz Revolutionary Court to a combined total of 24 years in prison in a joint case.

According to HRANA, the news agency of Human Rights Activists in Iran, the four union activists were sentenced by Branch 3 of the Ahvaz Revolutionary Court. On Tuesday, January 7, 2025, they were verbally informed of their sentences. Each was sentenced to five years in prison on charges of “assembly and collusion against national security” and one year for “propaganda against the regime,” amounting to a total of 24 years for all four activists.

The court hearing for their case took place on November 6, 2024, in the same branch.

Kokab Bodaqi-Panah, a teachers’ union activist in Khuzestan, had previously been charged by Branch 13 of the Prosecutor’s Office in Ahvaz in October 2024 and was released on bail following her indictment.

Siamak Sadeghi Chehrazi, Pirooz Nami, and Ali Koroushat have faced prior legal actions due to their union activities.

Teacher Union Activist Majid Karimi Arrested in Sanandaj

On Tuesday, May 31, 2022, security forces arrested teacher union activist Majid Karimi in Sanandaj City and transferred him to an unidentified location.

According to HRANA, the news agency of Human Rights Activists, quoting Kurdpa, on Tuesday, May 31, 2022, teacher union activist Majid Karimi was arrested. Reportedly, he and several others had gathered before the IRGC Intelligence Office to inquire about detained teacher union activist Masoud Farhikhteh, when several IRGC agents came out and took him to an unidentified location.

The reason for his arrest and his whereabouts are unknown so far.

Teacher Union Activist Mohammad Habibi’s Detention Extended 

Mohammad Habibi’s detention was extended for a month on Wednesday, June 1, 2022, despite a previous pledge that he would be released on bail. On April 30, 2022, Habibi, who is the spokesperson of the Iranian Teachers’ Trade Association was arrested and detained in Ward 209 of Evin Prison.

According to HRANA, the news agency of Human Rights Activists, on Wednesday, June 1, 2022, imprisoned teacher Mohammad Habibi’s detention was extended for one month.

According to an informed source, Habibi has been charged with “propaganda against the regime” and is currently held in one of the public cells of Ward 209 with 12 other inmates.” He was allowed to have one phone call once a week and family visitations two times. 

On April 30, 2022, one day before the nationwide teacher protests, security forces arrested  Habibi and three other members of the Iranian Teachers’ Trade Association, Ali Akbar Baghani, Rasoul Bodaghi and Jafar Ebrahimi and transferred them to Ward 209 of Evin prison, which belongs to the Ministry of Intelligence and demonstrates that the Ministry is concerned about the teachers’ assembly in Iran.