Rejection of the “Interim Injunction” Request for Kurdistan Teachers’ Sentences in the Administrative Justice Court Under “Security” Pretext

Friday, September 19, 2025; the Kurdistan Teachers’ Association announced that the Administrative Justice Court has opposed the request for an “interim injunction” to halt the execution of the sentences of Kurdistan teachers. According to this association, this decision was made while provincial and national officials had previously promised follow-up and support in the Administrative Justice Court during meetings with educators. However, in the case of Kurdistan teacher union activists, the “security” label has become a pretext for ignoring this legal right.

The Kurdistan Teachers’ Association, by publishing a statement, announced that after the issuance of conviction sentences for several educators and their confirmation at the appeal stage, these sentences were referred to the Administrative Justice Court for objection; however, despite widespread community support and repeated promises from officials, the Administrative Justice Court refused to accept the request for an “interim injunction” to stop the execution of the sentences. According to this association, this decision indicates a disregard for public demand and a lack of serious will to resolve the issue peacefully due to a “security” perspective.

An “interim injunction,” according to the law of the Administrative Justice Court, is a tool that stays the execution of a sentence until the final verdict is issued in cases where there is a possibility of irreparable damage to citizens. This tool is accepted in many administrative cases, but the rejection of this request for Kurdistan teachers once again showed that existing legal tools for defending citizens’ rights are emptied of their main function under the shadow of a security perspective.

The Kurdistan Teachers’ Association emphasized in its statement that the community of educators will not remain silent in the face of this injustice and will continue legal and civil follow-up until a fair result is achieved.

Kurdpa, while condemning the double and comprehensive suppression against Kurdistan teachers, declares that from a human rights perspective and considering the suppression policies of the Islamic Republic of Iran, the rejection of this request was not based on legal standards, but rather on “political and security” considerations:

De-legitimizing union and civil protests by portraying cases—which are inherently within the framework of occupational rights and union demands—as security-related. This security labeling attempts to reduce the civil activities of teachers to a threat against “public order” and make suppression justifiable in public opinion.

Creating an atmosphere of fear and systematic deterrence to silence any pursuit of legitimate rights. Rejecting the interim injunction sends a clear message to civil society and educators: any attempt at legal defense of union rights will not only not be supported but will be met with double pressure and punishment.

Full text of the explanation from the Kurdistan Teachers’ Association:

“Rejection of the ‘Interim Injunction’ request to stay the execution of the Kurdistan teachers’ sentences by the Administrative Justice Court
Explanation: When a conviction sentence for an employee is issued in the Preliminary Board for Handling Administrative Violations and becomes final at the Ministry’s appeal stage, they have the right to object to the Administrative Justice Court as a final action so that the final verdict is issued in a process lasting several months. However, the person who received the sentence can, while registering the objection in the Administrative Justice Court, request the issuance of an ‘interim injunction’ to prevent the execution of the sentence until the final ruling of the Court, allowing the individual to continue their activity. Usually, in most cases, such a request is approved and the individual temporarily returns to work; but in security cases (under which the cases of union activists are unjustly categorized), the Court makes a decision after consulting with provincial officials.

Following the issuance of conviction sentences for Kurdistan teachers, despite extensive support from various segments of society and repeated promises from provincial and national officials in meetings with educators and representatives of civil society, the request for an ‘interim injunction’ to stay the execution of the sentences for the convicted teachers was not accepted in the Administrative Justice Court. This decision was made while its acceptance could have at least been a sign of good faith and the will of officials to respond to the legitimate demand of teachers and the people. The rejection of this request shows disregard for the public demand of educators and citizens of Kurdistan and carries the message that there is no serious will to solve this issue. This is in a situation where it was expected that those in charge would pave the way for a peaceful resolution of this problem by showing cooperation and building trust.

The Kurdistan Teachers’ Association, while expressing dissatisfaction with this non-constructive approach, emphasizes that the community of Kurdistan teachers will not remain silent in the face of these injustices and will continue legal and civil pursuit of these cases until a fair result is achieved. We believe the only way out of this situation is adherence to justice, respect for the union and legal rights of teachers, and fulfilling the promises made.

Kurdistan Teachers’ Association (Saqqez and Ziviyeh - Mariwan and Sarvabad - Sanandaj) September 19, 2025”