Update on Detained Teacher Union Activist Eskandar Lotfi

Teacher Eskandar Lotfi, who was detained since May 30, 2022, has been transferred to a location unknown to his lawyer and family.

According to HRANA, the news agency of Human Rights Activists, Eskandar Lotfi, a detained teacher and a member of the Mariwan Teachers’ Trade Association, has been transferred to a location unknown to his lawyer and family.

Eskandar Lotfi has been on hunger strike since his arrest in protest against the unlawful arrest and interrogators’ pressure to make forced confessions.

An informed source close to Lotfi’s family told HRANA that his case has been handed to the Evin Courthouse.

Mr Lotfi’s lawyer, Saleh Nikbakht wrote on social media, “My client, Eskandar Lotfi is on hunger strike for nine days and recently was transferred from Mariwan to an unknown location and his life is in danger.”

Three weeks ago, in a report, a state-controlled TV channel tried to connect the recent detention of two French citizens, Cécile Kohler and her husband, to nationwide teachers’ protests and the teachers’ activists. In response, in a statement, the Iranian Teachers’ Trade Association condemned these attempts to make such connections and allegations. 

On Sunday, May 1, in response to a call by the Coordination Council of Iranian Teachers’ Trade Association, the retired and active teachers in 45 cities assembled in front of the building of the Ministry of Education. In Mariwan and Bushehr, these protests were attacked and several protestors were arrested.