NASUWT international solidarity award
FOR JALILA AL SALMAN
The NASUWT, the largest teachers’ union, has opened its Annual Conference in Bournemouth by presenting its International Solidarity Award to the Vice-President of the Bahrain Teachers’ Association (BTA), Jalila al Salman.
The award is being presented to Jalila in recognition of her immense courage in defending the human and trade union rights of teachers and others in Bahrain.
Jalila was arrested during the recent wave of pro-democracy protests in the country.
The home she shares with her children was raided by the security forces. She was abducted, assaulted and sexually abused. Her interrogators blindfolded her, beat her up and kept her locked in freezing temperatures.
She was later sentenced to three years in prison by a military court.
She lives under constant fear of arrest but continues to speak up for teachers’ rights.
Chris Keates, NASUWT General Secretary, said:
“Jalila is a woman of immense courage and a powerful symbol of resistance to all oppressive and violent regimes.
“She is a source of inspiration to us all and her struggle underlines the importance of the NASUWT’s international work to support all of those teachers and trade unionists across the world fighting for freedom of expression, social justice and human rights.
“I am immensely proud that Jalila can be with us at Conference to receive in person the NASUWT International Solidarity Award.”
Jalila al Salman said:
“I am very pleased to be accepting this award and I thank the NASUWT and its members as they continue to highlight the oppressive nature of the regime in Bahrain.
“The support of the NASUWT raises the issue of Bahrain in the UK and internationally, to make sure that our struggle is not forgotten.
“Your support means so much to us and gives us hope in our struggle for freedom and our efforts to release all political prisoners, including the President of the BTA, Mahdi Abu Dheeb.
“We thank the NASUWT indeed for supporting us.”
ENDS
NASUWT Press Office contacts:
Lena Davies 07867 392 746
Ben Padley 07785 463 119
Amanda Williamson 0774 124 6202
Notes to editors
The NASUWT’s Annual Conference is being held at the Bournemouth International Centre (BIC) from 29 March to 1 April.
The NASUWT prioritises solidarity action in the following countries:
The MENA region (Middle East and North Africa)
Burma
Colombia
Iraq
Zimbabwe
The purpose of the NASUWT’s international activity in all cases is that it should contribute to the following policy aims:
(i) Building the capacity of teacher trade unions in other countries;
(ii) Defending the human and trade union rights of teachers around the world;
(iii) Achievement of the Education Millennium Development Goals, as follows:
Achieve Universal Primary Education
Ensure that, by 2015, children everywhere, boys and girls alike, will be able to complete a full course of primary schooling;
Promote Gender Equality and Empower Women
Eliminate gender disparity in primary and secondary education in all levels of education no later than 2015.
Lena Davies
Press and Media Officer
NASUWT
0121 457 6250 / 07867 392 746
lena.davies@mail.nasuwt.org.uk
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