Dr Loretta Johnson, Secretary Treasurer, AFT USA
U.S. teachers union "shocked" by dismissal of educators for political views in Azerbaijan
The American Federation of Teachers (AFT), a national teachers' union, raised its concern over the crackdown against teachers in Azerbaijan due to their political affiliation.
"On behalf of the 1.6 million members of the American Federation of Teachers, I write to express our shock at learning about the Azerbaijani educators who were threatened with termination - and then fired - for their political party affiliation," Loretta Johnson, secretary-treasurer of the AFT, wrote in a letter to Azerbaijan's President Ilham Aliyev, TURAN's Washington correspondent reports.
Educators in Azerbaijan, along with many activists, are at the center of a crackdown with several teachers are reportedly suspended for attending an opposition rally on 8 April.
"This action is part of a disturbing pattern, which includes the jailing of dozens of activists, journalists and political opponents, that has led human rights defenders to describe your country's independent civil society as being under siege," wrote Loretta Johnson.
According to local media reports, on April 27, Aflatun Ahmadli of Popular Front Party of Azerbaijan, was dismissed from his job at School No.1 in the village of Mayak, Neftchala, where he worked as a physics teacher. His wife, Ulker Ahmadli, also a member of the PFPA, was also fired from her job as a teacher of the Russian language at school No.3.
Early last week, another educator Jalil Imanov, an activist of the PFPA, was also suspended from his position as a history teacher of the Ishkadarskaya village school.
In her letter to President Aliyev, Johnson reminded that the Azeri government ratified the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights nearly 25 years ago, committing the country to respect citizens' rights, including freedom of speech, freedom of assembly, electoral rights and the right to due process.
"The next steps your government takes will be important ones for civil and political rights in Azerbaijan. The AFT will continue to monitor the situation and support the cause of all people of Azerbaijan who call for human rights protections, transparency and good governance," reads the letter.
*The American Federation of Teachers is a union of professionals that champions fairness, democracy, economic opportunity and high-quality public educations, healthcare and public services for students, their families and communities. -0-
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