Iraj Toubiha Najafabadi
Age: 66
Activism/rights: Teachers’ union rights activist
Status: Free
Judicial status: Sentenced to 91 days in prison under a final ruling, replacing a previous exile sentence
Violations: Arbitrary arrest and detention; denial of due process and a fair trial; prolonged solitary confinement; denial of access to legal counsel; forced exile; restrictions on freedom of movement and trade union activities
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 January 4, 2025, Iraj Toubihaei Najafabadi entered Isfahan Central Prison (Dastgerd) to serve a sentence of two years and one month in prison.
On July 19, 2026, after completing his prison sentence, Toubihaei Najafabadi was released from Isfahan Central Prison and transferred to serve a two-year exile sentence in Dehsalm village, Nehbandan County, South Khorasan Province.
On September 6, 2026, Branch 34 of the Isfahan Provincial Court of Appeal, citing his refusal to remain at his designated place of exile, replaced the exile sentence with 91 days of imprisonment. The ruling was declared final.