Esmail Abdi is a teacher and the leader of the Iranian Teachers’ Trade Association’s Tehran branch. He was arrested last June while en route to Canada, where he was set to attend an Education International conference.

He had been held in custody awaiting trial for eight months since his arrest. Last week he was sentenced to six years in prison. He was convicted, entirely on the basis of his legitimate trade union involvement, of “gathering and colluding with intent to harm public order.”

Education International is calling for Abdi’s immediate and unconditional release. Abdi’s is in a difficult situation, but, with the right level of support, there is hope for him. Just last month, the Government in Djibouti dropped charges against teacher and trade unionist, Omar Ali Ewado, after coming under serious pressure from a LabourStart petition.

LabourStart is hoping to repeat this success in Abdi’s case. Sign the petition to free Esmail Abdi HERE