Watchdog

Sazak Durdymuradov, a 59-year-old history teacher, was reinstated as a teacher at his school in Baharden, outside Ashgabat. He was dismissed from his position in June 20 after he was detained and confined to a psychiatric clinic for his work with RFE/RL. He spent two weeks in the remote clinic before he was released on July 4.

Speaking to RFE/RL's Turkmen Service, Durdymuradov said that he had written a letter to the school administration demanding his rights and asking to be allowed to continue teaching at his school. "I believe there was no ground for my dismissal. My success is the result of our strong position in protecting our rights," he said.

Durdymuradov has since continued his contributions to the Turkmen Service's programs, participating in the "People's Voice" program about the draft constitution to be adopted by September.

An eight-year sentence handed down to political activist Abbas Khorsandi has been confirmed by an appeals court. He was charged with setting up an "illegal political group." According to the International Campaign for Human Rights in Iran, the only evidence against him is apparently based on his political beliefs and articles published on the Internet.

Khorsandi was initially arrested in September 2007 in his hometown of Firuzkuh outside Tehran. Security agents searched his home, but were reportedly unable to find any incriminating evidence to confiscate. He was sentenced in March to eight years in prison on charges of threatening state security.

The 50-year-old economics professor is the leader and founder of the unregistered Democratic Party of Iran.