Write on behalf of Iranian teachers facing death

By: December 26, 2013
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         In much of the global south, teachers are leaders of their communities.  In Iran, two teachers are in mortal danger because they have defended their community’s religious freedom.  Amnesty International has sent an alert for urgent action to defend them. I’ve sent an email message, reproduced below. Please do the same – before January 20.

         Teachers have as part of their professional obligations a responsibility to serve their communities.  As a professor of education and teacher-educator,  I write on behalf of two Iranian teachers, Hadi Rashedi and Hashem Sha’bani Amouri, who were sentenced to death on 7 July 2012 in connection with their cultural activities on behalf of Iran’s Ahwazi Arab minority. They were reported to have been pressured to make videotaped “confessions” and are believed to have been tortured or otherwise ill-treated when they refused.

         The Iranian people have the right to determine their future and for this reason I have consistently opposed use by the US and other nations of force and sanctions against the Iranian people. I urge you to support the same rights for others and reveal the whereabouts of Hadi Rashedi and Hashem Sha’bani Amouri and revoke the order to execute them and the other three men Mohammad Ali Amouri, Sayed Jaber Alboshoka, and Sayed Mokhtar Alboshoka, convicted with them.

         All the men deserve retrials in proceedings in line with international fair trial standards and without recourse to the death penalty. They should be protected from torture and allegations of torture should be investigated.  They should be given medical treatment and are allowed immediate and regular contact with their lawyers and families.

PLEASE SEND APPEALS BEFORE 20 JANUARY 2014 TO:

1. Leader of the Islamic Republic

Ayatollah Sayed ‘Ali Khamenei

Twitter: @khamenei_ir

Email: info_leader@leader.ir

Salutation: Your Excellency

 

2. Head of the Judiciary

Ayatollah Sadegh Larijani

Email: info@dadiran.ir

(Subject line: FAO Ayatollah Sadegh Larijani)Salutation: Your Excellency

 

3. Copy

President of the Islamic Republic of Iran

Hassan Rouhani

Email: media@rouhani.ir

Twitter: @HassanRouhani (English) and @Rouhani_ir (Persian)

Posted , by newpolitics
About Author
LOIS WEINER writes widely about education, labor, and politics, specializing in teacher unionism. Her new book looks at lessons for the Left  in capitalism's alteration of work and education, and how teachers and their unions can resist with support to and of movements for social justice.

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