Diplomat: Efforts Underway for Release of Iranian Teachers in UAE
TEHRAN (Tasnim) – An Iranian deputy foreign minister said constant diplomatic efforts are underway to secure the freedom of the country’s teachers who have been held in the United Arab Emirate’s custody for more than a week for the alleged visa problems.
Deputy Foreign Minister for Parliamentary and Iranian Expatriates Affairs Hassan Qashqavi said on Wednesday that there are daily contacts with the Iranian embassy in Abu Dhabi to pursue the release of the detained Iranian teachers, noting that “very good talks” have been held with the Emirati officials on the issue.
What really matters is preservation of dignity of the Iranian teachers and continuation of their job in the Arab country, Qashqavi added.
Given the beginning of the new lunar year, there might be a short interruption in the process of the teachers’ release, the diplomat explained, but noted that the ground for the release of the detainees will be soon prepared through efforts by Iran’s ambassador to the UAE.
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 on Tuesday as the tenth one.
Media reports on Monday suggested that the teachers were having a "bad experience" in prison and had their heads shaved.
Iran on Sunday summoned the charge d’affaires of the United Arab Emirates in Tehran to protest at the arrests.
