Masoud Nikkhah

Masoud Nikkhah is a teachers’ guild activist from Marivan. He was arrested along with many teachers in May 2022.

• <coverage-outsourcing id='39377'> <reference source='https://t.me/kashowra/10004'> Eskandar Lotfi and Masoud Nikkhah were arrested in Marivan. They went on hunger strike from the moment of their arrest. Mr. Lotfi was transferred to Shahramfar detention center in Sanandaj. </reference> </coverage-outsourcing>
• <coverage-outsourcing id='39380'> <reference source='https://t.me/kashowra/10082'> The teachers’ guild of Kurdistan-Marivan called for a gathering in protest of the oppression of teachers and the illegal arrest of Eskandar Lotfi and Masoud Nikkhah and announced that there with be a sit-in at schools on Sunday, 8/5/2022, and one in front of the Education Ministry office on Monday, 9/5/2022. </reference> </coverage-outsourcing>
• <coverage-outsourcing id='39400'> <reference source='https://t.me/kasenfi/21354'> Teachers in Marivan county had a public gathering in support of the arrested teachers and protest against the continued detainment and indecision in the cases of Eskandar Lotfi and Masoud Nikkhah. </reference> </coverage-outsourcing>
• <coverage-outsourcing id='39386'> <reference source='https://bit.ly/3lnH9z9'> He was released on bail from Marivan Prison. </reference> </coverage-outsourcing>
• <coverage-outsourcing id='39387'> He was arrested again. </coverage-outsourcing>
• <coverage-outsourcing id='39416'> <reference source='https://www.frontlinedefenders.org/fa/case/arbitrary-detention-masoud-nikkhah-2-other-members-itta-marivan-branch'> Front Line Defenders expressed concern about the arbitrary arrests of Shaban Mohammadi, Eskandar Lotfi, and Masoud Nikkhah and demanded their immediate and unconditional release. The human rights organization asked Iranian officials to guarantee that the two will have access to an attorney and necessary medication. </reference> </coverage-outsourcing>
• <coverage-outsourcing id='39389'> <reference source=''> The Islamic Republic’s state TV aired a report about the arrest of Cecile Kohler and Chuck Paris, blaming them for the teachers’ protests across the country. In the report, Cecile Kohler and Chuck Paris were accused of organizing “chaos and disorder” and claimed a connection between the two and several activist teachers, namely Eskandar Lotfi, Masoud Nikkhah, Shaaban Mohammadi, and Rasoul Badaghi. </reference> </coverage-outsourcing>
• <coverage-outsourcing id='39381'> <reference source='https://t.me/kasenfi/21621'> Families of the arrested teachers Eskandar Lotfi, Shaban Mohammadi, Masoud Nikkhah, and Rasoul Bodaghi released an open letter demanding a stop to the security pressures on these union activists and the attempts to frame them. Referring to the news published by government media and the accusations against these activists, they wrote: “This is not the first time these media outlets put out such controversial headlines and make noise and fuss over baseless reports, so there is no need for any explanation.” The families declared that they have the right to legally retaliate against all those responsible for such biased reports and will bring lawsuits against all those involved. </reference> </coverage-outsourcing>
• <coverage-outsourcing id='39383'> <reference source='https://t.me/kashowra/10715'> The Iranian Teachers’ Trade Association released a statement condemning the plot created by state TV's political program “20:30” and the dependent media to accuse the arrested teachers. The statement reads: “Do not embarrass yourselves more with these programs. The teachers’ movement in the past year with its demands for better life and dignity will not be silenced by such perverted! Programs, but it will fuel the fire of their wrath.” </reference> </coverage-outsourcing>
• <coverage-outsourcing id='39395'> According to IPA, Eskandar Lotfi, Masoud Nikkhah, Shaban Mohammadi, Rasoul Bodaghi, Jafar Ebrahimi, and Mohammad Habibi are still being detained. </coverage-outsourcing>
• <coverage-outsourcing id='39423'> <reference source='https://t.me/kanoon_nevisandegane_iran/848'> The Iranian Authors Association released a statement condemning the Ministry of Information for framing the activists, stating: “It is clear to everyone that these types of tricks have always been used to deceive the public opinion, preparing the grounds for coerced confessions, producing deceptive documentaries, long prison sentences, and intimidation and oppression of other activists.” The statement mentions that the security forces have produced media content to frame recently arrested activists including Keyvan Mohtadi, Reza Shahabi, Anisha Asadollahi, Reyhaneh Ansarinejad, Hassan Saeedi, Rasoul Bodaghi, Eskandar Lotfi, Masoud Nikkhah, and Shaban Mohammadi. </reference> </coverage-outsourcing>
• <coverage-outsourcing id='39663'> <reference source='https://bit.ly/3t13Jll'> In protest of the extended arrest of Eskandar Lotfi, Shaban Mohammadi, and Masoud Nikkhah and the security narrative created by the state TV, teachers in Marivan organized a gathering in front of the Marivan courthouse. </reference> </coverage-outsourcing>
• <coverage-outsourcing id='39730'> <reference source='https://t.me/kurdpaagency/21692'> Teachers in Sanandaj gathered in front of the Education Ministry office for Kurdistan province in protest of the illegal arrests of their colleagues. </reference> </coverage-outsourcing>
• <coverage-outsourcing id='39733'> <reference source='https://t.me/kurdpaagency/21735'> Shaban Mohammadi and Masoud Nikkhah were transferred from Snanadaj Information Ministry jail to one of the security wards of Evin Prison. </reference> </coverage-outsourcing>
• <coverage-outsourcing id='40332'> <reference source='https://www.instagram.com/p/CfYKLCOuBKy/'> Some families of the arrested labor activists and Teachers’ Trade Union members released an open letter pointing out the two months of detention, solitary confinement, and denied visitation, and asked for their release. In the letter, the families condemn the “framing and baseless cases brought up by information agencies” and “shameless and illegal programs about them on state TV”. They said the threats and insults by the prison authorities and interrogators toward the prisoners and their families are clear instances of torture and persecution and asked the supporters and labor rights and teachers’ rights advocacy organizations in Iran and abroad to defend the basic rights of these prisoners. </reference> </coverage-outsourcing>
• <coverage-outsourcing id='40620'> <reference source='https://cutt.ly/5LQwlQn'> According to Kurdpa, Masoud Nikkhah has been denied contact with family for the past 22 days. Kurdpa reported that he is being held in ward 209 of Evin Prison. </reference> </coverage-outsourcing>
• <coverage-outsourcing id='40773'> <reference source='https://bit.ly/3yPa84Y'> A family member of Masoud Nikkhah told Radio Zamaneh that Mr. Nikkhah has been denied phone calls to the family for two months. </reference> </coverage-outsourcing>
• <coverage-outsourcing id='40886'> <reference source='https://www.radiofarda.com/a/iran-jafarebrahimi/31960589.html'> Jafar Ebrahimi’s wife Samaneh Abedini told Radio Farda that the families of Eskandar Lotfi, Shaban Mohammadi, and Masoud Nikkhah are under increasing pressure and have been summoned by the Information Ministry office in Kurdistan. </reference> </coverage-outsourcing>