Iraj Toubiha Najafabadi
Age: 65
Activism/rights: Trade unionist teacher
Status: Isfahan Central Prison
Judicial status: 2 years and 1 month’s imprisonment
Violations: Arbitrary arrest and detention; lack of a fair trial and due process; prolonged solitary confinement; denial of access to a lawyer
Iraj Toubiha Najafabadi is a retired teacher, board member and head of public relations of the Najafabad Teachers’ Union in Isfahan. He was first arrested on 12 October 2022 during the “Woman, Life, Freedom” protests, when plainclothes security agents raided his workplace. He was interrogated for 30 days in solitary confinement in the A-T Ward of Isfahan Central Prison and for 10 days in the general ward before being released on bail. In April 2023, plainclothes security agents violently rearrested him in front of the Najafabad Department of Education without presenting a warrant or identification card and transferred him to Najafabad Prison. After 5 days in solitary confinement and interrogation, he was released on bail. On 12 October 2023, plainclothes security agents abducted him in the street and again transferred him to the same prison. After 13 days of interrogation, he was released on bail.
Following repeated summonses and new cases, Branch 102 of the Najafabad Revolutionary Court sentenced Iraj on 4 May 2024 to a total of 11 years’ imprisonment, a fine, and 2 years’ exile to Dehsalm Rural District in Nehbandan County, South Khorasan Province. He was sentenced to 2 years’ imprisonment each on two charges of “insulting the Leader of the Islamic Republic”; 1 year each on four charges of “propaganda against the system”; 1 year on charges of “participation in illegal gatherings, particularly teachers’ gatherings, and inciting teachers”; and 2 years’ imprisonment on charges of “spreading falsehoods through telecommunications systems and insulting officials”.
After he appealed the initial ruling, the Isfahan Province Court of Appeal upheld the sentences in July 2024. However, following the consolidation of his sentences, he would be required to serve two years and one month.
On 4 January 2025, Iraj was transferred to Isfahan Central Prison to begin serving his sentence.