Education International, the largest global union federation, representing teachers and education workers around the world, has released an urgent appeal on behalf of an Iranian teacher and trade unionist sentenced to death after an unfair trial. The AFT is a constituent member of EI.
According to EI, Farzad Kamangar, a 33-year-old teacher and human rights activist from Iran’s Kurdistan Province, was convicted in February of “endangering national security” and “enmity against God.” The death penalty, handed down by the Tehran Revolutionary Court, was later confirmed by the Iranian Supreme Court. Farzad was not allowed to speak at his trial, nor was his lawyer allowed to defend him against the charges, which stemmed from his alleged ties to the Kurdistan Workers’ Party.
There are reports that Farzad has been tortured during his detention, and colleagues who have come to his defense have been intimidated or jailed.
To learn more about Farzad’s plight, and to find out how you can help an educator victimized by an anti-union regime, go to the Urgent Action Appeal section of the Education International site.
