Kurdistan/Iran; the administrative justice court in Iran has upheld the dismissal of a teachers union activist in Marivan

The 31st appeals Branch of the Administrative Justice Court of the Islamic republic of Iran, chaired by Mahmoud Faridounifard and assistant advisor Mohsen Heydatmanesh, Citing the dismissal ruling rejected Somayeh Akhtarshomar's appeal against her dismissal on May 1st, 2025.

Previously, on September 17, 2024, the first branch of the Ministry of Education Review Committee confirmed the dismissal order against Mrs. Akhtarzhomar and removed from the education system.

In June 2024, Somayeh Akhtarshomar, a Kurdish female, and an English lecturer in Marivan, was dismissed by the Primary Committee for Administrative Offenses of Employees in Kurdistan Province.

On January 13, 2024, the Marivan Education Department sent a letter to the Primary Committee outlining charges against Mrs. Akhtarshomar. She was accused of "publishing derogatory content and spreading false information against the Islamic Republic, being an active member of illegal teachers union’s channels on social media, posting inflammatory content on the Marivan, Sewllawa(Sarvabad) and Iranian teachers union’s channels as well, designing internal exam questions in support of the protesters (referencing protesters in understanding the materials and language questions) and publishing them on social media, supporting Kurdish opposition parties and spreading their contents online, posting images of herself without a hijab on social media and endorsing divisive messages, sharing images of students without hijab(head scarf) and posting disruptive motto online, and posting images of her child wearing clothing associated with Kurdish opposition parties on her personal social media page along with their catchphrases and the Kurdish flag, as well as sharing content in the Iranian teachers association’s websites in Iran."

Based on the letter from the Marivan Education Department, the Primary Committee for Administrative Offenses of Employees in Kurdistan Province issued the decision to dismiss this Kurdish female lecturer on March 18, 2024.

Somayeh Akhtarshomar has 17 years of experience in the education sector as an English language lecturer.

Born on July 13, 1987 is married, and holds a bachelor's degree.