Heavy Sentences Against Teachers in Kurdistan: Crackdown on Union Activists

Iran escalates repression against Kurdish teachers with dismissals, exiles, and forced retirements. Explore human rights violations targeting union activists in Kurdistan.

Iran Human Rights Society, Tuesday, December 9, 2025 – Kurdish teachers’ rights violations surge in Iran. Authorities intensify pressure on union activists in Kurdistan. They issue harsh sentences like dismissals and exiles. This crackdown hits experienced educators hard. It stems from peaceful protests and union work. The Education Department’s Administrative Violations Unit finalizes these rulings. Union observers call it structural suppression. Teachers face job losses despite long service and advanced degrees. Families suffer economic hardship. Therefore, global attention grows urgent. Human rights groups condemn these acts. They violate international standards on labor and association rights. Join us to uncover this crisis. Demand justice for these vital educators.

Intensifying Pressure on Teachers in Kurdistan

Iran’s regime ramps up confrontations with union activists. The Education Department targets teachers in Kurdistan. It finalizes dismissal sentences for eight educators. This action signals a new wave of suppression. Protesting teachers endure independent voices silenced. All dismissed individuals boast long records. They hold university degrees at bachelor’s or master’s levels. Plus, they play key roles in union structures.

These rulings spark widespread concern. Teachers in Kurdistan feel the chill. Families worry about stability. Many view this as part of broader security tactics. Judicial pressures mount in recent months. Therefore, union activities face greater risks. Educators push back, but costs rise steeply.

Eight Teachers with Over a Hundred Years of Experience Now Dismissed

Union sources reveal stark details. The Kurdistan Teachers’ Union – Sanandaj Branch shares the list. Dismissals hit three from Sanandaj. Four come from Divandarreh. One hails from Marivan. Among the eight, seven possess master’s degrees. All log 18 to 26 years in classrooms. They specialize in secondary schools. Their expertise shapes young minds for decades.

However, authorities strip them of roles abruptly. This loss erodes educational quality. Experienced hands vanish from desks. Students miss seasoned guidance. Furthermore, the union highlights their dedication. These teachers fuel community growth. Yet, suppression now overshadows their contributions.

Names of the Eight Dismissed Teachers:

1. Majid Karimi – Sanandaj – Master’s in Political Science – 23 years experience
2. Ghiyas Nemati – Sanandaj – Master’s in Clinical Psychology – 18 years experience
3. Jahangir Bahmani – Sanandaj – Master’s in Physics – 23 years experience
4. Omid Shahmohammadi – Divandarreh – Master’s in Biology – 26 years experience
5. Parviz Ahsani – Divandarreh – Master’s in Geology – 21 years experience
6. Kaveh Mohammadzadeh – Divandarreh – Master’s student in Sociology – 22 years experience
7. Hiwa Qoreishi – Divandarreh – Master’s in Literature – 26 years experience
8. Somayeh Akhtarshomar – Marivan – Bachelor’s in English Language – 18 years experience

Two among them face extra blows. Authorities sentence them to permanent removal from government jobs. This ban blocks future employment. It deepens personal ruin. Therefore, recovery seems distant.

Other Heavy Sentences: Removals, Exiles, Demotions, and Restrictions

The Administrative Violations Unit expands its reach. It dishes out more punishments beyond dismissals. These measures show confrontation’s scale. Teachers in Kurdistan bear the brunt. Rulings vary but all sting deeply.

Removal from Service (6 months to one year):

9. Shahram Karimi – Saqqez – 18 years experience
10. Loghmanullah Moradi – Saqqez – Master’s in Political Science – 26 years experience
11. Salah Haji-Mirzaei – Sanandaj – Master’s in History – 27 years experience

Forced Retirement with Demotion:

12. Nasrin Karimi – Sanandaj – Master’s – 26 years experience
13. Leila Zarei – Sanandaj – 32 years experience
14. Soleiman Abdi – Saqqez – Bachelor’s in Mechanics – 30 years experience

Exile to Another Province:

15. Faisal Nouri – Sanandaj – Master’s in Mathematics – Exile to Kermanshah

Deprivation from Managerial Positions:

16. Mohieddin Reyhani – Sanandaj – Master’s in Philosophy of Education – 5 years deprivation
17. Taban Haddadian – Sanandaj – Master’s in Linguistics – 1 year deprivation + 3 months salary deduction

These penalties disrupt lives profoundly. Exiles uproot families. Demotions slash dignity and pay. Suspensions halt income flows. Therefore, fear grips the teaching community.

The Role of Families: Pressure on Livelihood and Daily Life

Punishments strike beyond individuals. They hammer families too. Many teachers serve as household heads. Job losses erase primary incomes. Economic woes pile up swiftly. Families share struggles with union contacts. Children’s futures hang in balance. Treatment and schooling costs soar out of reach. No independent support networks exist.

For these educators, teaching defines identity. It weaves social and cultural threads. Dismissals shatter 20 to 30-year careers. Livelihoods crumble overnight. Daily routines fracture. Therefore, resilience tests deepen for all affected.

Political and Union Backgrounds of the Cases in Sanandaj

Union elections in May 2024 sparked escalation. Case fabrications surged post-vote. Dismissed teachers shine as key activists. They organize protests boldly, chase union rights relentlessly, oppose education privatization.

Security-linked media stirs trouble. Recent reports level baseless claims. They accuse teachers of opposing ties. Union voices and educators dismiss these as smears. They politicize legitimate work. Therefore, trust erodes further.

Reactions: Deep Concern in the Teachers’ Community

Teachers’ unions voice outrage. They label confrontations as rights breaches. Union activity faces clear violations. Education experts raise alarms. Firing veterans tanks school standards. Human rights defenders join the fray. Sentences clash with global norms. Freedom of association demands protection. Punitive hits on activists must end.

Communities rally in support. Statements flood from allies. They urge reversal of rulings. Solidarity builds momentum. Therefore, pressure mounts on authorities.

Increased Security Pressures: Summons, Arrests, and Threats

Kurdish teachers endure relentless tactics. Recent months bring waves of summons. Short arrests follow suit. Security interrogations drag on. Phone threats loom large. Union sources pinpoint goals. Actions aim to sow fear. They curb union involvement sharply.

A Blow to the Teachers’ Community in Kurdistan Province

Finalized dismissals deliver crushing impacts. Administrative punishments compound harm. Kurdistan’s educators reel from the strike. This signals wider anti-union trends in Iran. Organized efforts align with policies. Security and admin forces coordinate tightly.

Human Rights Violations in Dismissal Sentences for Kurdish Teachers

• Violation of Freedom of Association and Union Activity – Article 22 of the ICCPR– Authorities target union efforts directly. Dismissals, removals, exiles, and retirements punish participation. Job losses for union ties breach Article 22. It safeguards forming and joining unions. Peaceful advocacy deserves protection. Therefore, these acts defy core rights.

• Violation of the Right to a Fair Trial – Article 14 of the ICCPR– Administrative reviews lack fairness. Defense chances vanish. File access denies transparency. Independent appeals stay blocked. Teachers report no real defense slots. Lawyers get excluded routinely. Therefore, processes mock justice standards.

• Violation of the Right to Work and Job Security – Article 6 of the ICESCR– Dismissals hit seasoned pros hard. Demotions and forced retirements erode stability. Article 6 mandates job security support. Governments must curb discriminatory firings. Yet, Iran ignores these duties. Therefore, livelihoods face deliberate sabotage.

• Violation of Non-Discrimination Principles – Article 2 of the ICCPR and ICESCR– Focus zeros on Kurdistan’s active teachers. Union involvement draws fire. Ethnic and belief-based targeting emerges. Punishments for civil acts or heritage violate Article 2. Discrimination on these grounds stays banned. Therefore, equality crumbles under bias.

• Violation of Freedom of Expression – Article 19 of the ICCPR– Charges stem from union words often. Educational critiques draw ire. Social media posts trigger fallout. Restraints on opinions about schools breach Article 19. Expression on issues merits freedom. Therefore, silencing tactics prevail unjustly.

• Violation of Family Rights and Livelihood – Article 10 of the ICESCR– Household heads lose breadwinner roles. Dismissals thrust families into crisis. Livelihood security evaporates. Article 10 binds governments to family support. Targeted measures push economic peril. Therefore, protections fail spectacularly.

Iran’s crackdown on Kurdish teachers’ rights violations demands global outcry. Activists persist amid adversity. International bodies must intervene. Solidarity strengthens their fight. Justice calls for immediate action. Educators shape futures. They deserve unhindered paths.

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• Aida Najafloo’s Critical Health Crisis: Prison Neglect Risks Permanent Paralysis After Spinal Surgery

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