Teachers’ Union Activist Masoud Farhikhteh Sentenced to Imprisonment by Court of Appeal

HRANA – Branch 12 of the Alborz Province Court of Appeal has reduced the prison sentence of teachers’ union activist Masoud Farhikhteh to four years, one month, and 17 days, down from the six years previously handed down by the trial court.

According to the Coordination Council of Iranian Teachers’ Trade Associations, the appellate court sentenced Farhikhteh to three years, six months, and one day in prison for “assembly and collusion to commit crimes against internal security,” and seven months and 16 days for “propaganda against the regime.”

Under Article 134 of the Islamic Penal Code, only the most severe sentence — three years, six months, and one day — will be enforceable.

Farhikhteh was originally sentenced in January 2025 by Branch 2 of the Karaj Revolutionary Court, following a trial held in July 2024.

In a separate case, the Sanandaj Revolutionary Court sentenced him in April 2024 to three months in prison for “propaganda against the regime,” later converting the sentence to an eight-million-toman fine. He was acquitted of this charge in August 2024 by the Kurdistan Province Court of Appeal.

A board member of the Islamshahr Teachers’ Union, Farhikhteh was arrested by security forces at his home in Karaj on May 1, 2023, and transferred to Ghezel Hesar Prison. He was released on bail in June of that year.

Teacher Union Activist Masoud Farhikhteh Sentenced to 6 Years in Prison and Additional Punishments

Masoud Farhikhteh, a teacher and union activist, has been sentenced by Branch 2 of the Revolutionary Court in Karaj to six years in prison, a two-year travel ban, and additional penalties, including a prohibition on membership in social groups and gatherings, as well as restrictions on movement in the provinces of Alborz, Tehran, Qazvin, Lorestan, and Kurdistan.

According to HRANA, quoting the Coordination Council of Iranian Teachers’ Trade Associations, Masoud Farhikhteh’s sentence was recently issued and communicated to him. Based on the ruling, Farikhteh received:

  • One year in prison for the charge of “propaganda against the regime.”
  • Five years in prison for “assembly and collusion to commit crimes against national security.”
  • Two-year travel ban, prohibition of membership in social groups, and restrictions on movement in specified provinces as supplementary punishments.

The charges were based on allegations including “active participation in illegal gatherings as a leader, organizing riots, publishing statements alongside opponents of the Islamic Republic, and inciting opposition groups nationwide to organize protests.”

Earlier this year, in a separate case, Farhikhteh was sentenced by the Revolutionary Court of Sanandaj to three months of imprisonment for “propaganda against the regime,” which was later converted into an 8 million toman fine. He was acquitted of this charge in August following an appeal in the Kurdistan Appeals Court.

Masoud Farhikhteh, a member of the board of directors of the Islamshahr Teachers’ Union, was arrested on May 1, 2023, by security forces at his home in Karaj and transferred to Ghezel Hesar Prison. He was eventually released on bail in May of the same year.

Teachers Union Activist Masoud Farhikhteh Sentenced

The Criminal Court of Tehran has sentenced Masoud Farhikhteh, a member of the Islamshahr Teachers Trade Association, to one year imprisonment and 74 lashes, which was suspended for two years.

According to HRANA, the news agency of Human Rights Activists, quoting the Coordination Council of Iranian Teachers’ Trade Associations, Masoud Farhikhteh was sentenced to one year suspended prison sentence and flagellation on the charge of “disturbing public order.”

In the trial, participation in “illegal gatherings” was presented as evidence to support the above-mentioned charge.

On Thursday, May 13, 2022, during the teachers’ protests in various cities in Iran, several protestors including Farhikhteh were arrested. On June 8, Farhikhteh was released on bail until the end of legal proceedings.

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.