UAE Refuses to Release Detained Iranian Teachers on Bail: Official
TEHRAN (Tasnim) – An Emirati prosecutor-general has refrained from freeing 10 Iranian teachers detained for more than a week for alleged visa problems, an Iranian education official announced.
In spite of the Iranian Education Ministry’s efforts for the release of the detained teachers, Al Ain’s prosecutor-general refused to free them on bail, Rasool Papaee, the ministry’s public relations deputy, told the Tasnim News Agency on Wednesday.
The ministry has already held intensive negotiations with Emirati officials, Papaee noted, adding that a delegation will be dispatched to Abu Dhabito further pursue the issue.
9 Iranian teachers were arrested a week ago in the UAE for lacking work permits.
The supervisor of UAE-based Iranian teachers was also detained yesterday as the tenth Iranian national recently taken into custody in the Persian Gulf littoral state, Ataollah Soltani Sabour, an Iranian lawmaker told the Tasnim News Agency on Wednesday.
He noted that 13 female Iranian teachers were also detained, but were released on bail.
Iran’s ambassador to the UAE has held a meeting with the Emirati deputy foreign minister, urging the Arab country to immediately release the Iranian nationals, Soltani Sabour added.
Media reports on Monday suggested that the teachers were having a "bad experience" in prison and had their heads shaved since their arrest last week. It has been reported they had previously worked in Al Ain using their Dubai credentials without any problems.
Iran on Sunday summoned the charge d’affaires of the United Arab Emirates in Tehran to protest at the arrests.
