Trial of the editorial board of a magazine because of defending the struggles of the Haft Tape sugar cane workers
In early May 2019, a meeting was held in branch 7 of Islamic prosecutor office in Tehran to hear the final defence of Esmaeil Bakhshi (workers leader) and Sepideh Gholiyan (student activist), along with Amir Amirgholi, Amirhosein Mohamadi, and Sanaz allah Yari who are the members of editorial team of Gam Magazine. Their crime is publication of news about strike of sugar cane workers of Haft Tapeh in Khuzestan province last year.
Amirhosein Mohamadi and Sanaz allah Yari (husband and wife) have been in custody since 9 January 2019. Amir Amirgholi was arrested on 16th January 2019 and was taken to section 209 of Evin prison. One month later he was transferred to Shiban prison in Ahvaz in Khuzestan province where he spent two months in solitary confinement. Amir Amirgholi who is diabetic was denied healthcare that worsened his physical health. On 28th April 2019, he was transferred to Evin prison along with Esmaeil Bakhshi and Sepideh Gholyian for their “final defence”. On April 29 the interrogation took place in Evin, without the presence of their lawyers.
On 4th December 2018, Asal Mohamadi, student activist and another member of editorial team of Gam Magazine, was arrested by Intelligence Services of Islamic Republic at her home in Tehran. She was transferred to Ahvaz in Khuzestan province and held at detention centre of Ministry of Intelligence in the city until 5 January 2019, when she was released on bail.
Asal Mohamadi and Ali Nejati who is a member of Syndicate of sugar cane workers of Haft Tapeh were summoned by prosecutor office of Evin (Shahid Moghadasi) to attend an interrogation session on 15th May 2019. After the interrogation and announcement of the new charges, their case has been sent to Islamic Court of Tehran.
The charges against Sepideh Gholyian include “propaganda against the regime”, “gathering and conspiracy to commit crime against national security”, “cooperation with inimical organisations and disrupting public order”.
The main purpose of arrest, interrogation, and prosecution of the editorial team of Gam Magazine is to arrange new security cases against well known leader of Haft Tapeh sugar cane workers Esmaeil Bakhshi and aims to push back the demands and struggles of the sugar cane workers.
It’s worth to remind you that Esmaeil Bakhshi and Sepideh Gholiyan were rearrested on 20th January 2019, a day after broadcast of a video reportage called “Burnt Plot” from Islamic Republic’s state TV channel. The propaganda piece which was against Esmaeil Bakhshi, Sepideh Gholiyan, and Ali Nejati used recordings of interrogations of the activists and accused them of having relations with the Worker-communist Party of Iran.
In the reportage the Islamic regime tried to assemble parts of the “confessions” of the workers’ leaders in prison to prove their relation with communists and to label the struggle of sugar cane workers of Haft Tapeh with “conspiracy” of the USA and in relate it with the economical sanctions against Iran.
The reportage also mentioned the editorial team of Gam Magazine and their role in publication of the news of the workers protests, which resulted in the arrests of the journalists.
However, the broadcast faced widespread condemnation from society and put the regime in a weaker position.
In response to the shameful frame-up Esmaeil Bakhshi and Sepideh Gholiyan affirmed their claims of torture in custody and said that they would testify in any public hearing about the claims.
About the reportage, Sepideh Gholyian wrote: “Never mind I and Esmaeil, even if you put 5,000 sugar cane workers of Haft Tapeh in front of camera and force them to confess by batons and cable, nothing changes about the fact that you are repressive and corrupt.”
Esmaeil Bakhshi and Sepideh Gholiyan were transferred to Shiban and Sepidar prisons in Ahvaz in Khuzestan province, and after two months, on 28th April 2019, were moved to Evin prison in Tehran so that branch 7 of prosecution office of Evin prepares their case for hearing.
Two journalists are among the detainees of the International Labor Day.
Two journalists include Keyvan Samimi, Editor of Iran Farda Magazine and Marzieh Amiri, a journalist from the Eastern Daily, are among the detainees of May 1st In front of the in front of the Islamic Majles (parliament) in Tehran. In addition, another journalist named Kiumars Marzban is in prison since September 26, 18, on charges of propaganda against the regime and insulting the sanctities.
Prosecution of writers
On 15th May 2019 lawyers of Reza Khandan Mahabadi, Baktash Abtin, and Keyvan Bajhen, members of Writers Association of Iran, were informed of the court sentences of their clients; each of them have been sentenced to 6 years prison, which has faced widespread protest. One of the charges brought against the three writers of the Writers’ Association is signing statements defending freedom of expression of writers and artists and opposing capital punishment and censorship. 900 writers and authors in Iran have signed a petition against the sentences against the three writers in Iran.
A group of writers from Afghanistan have signed a petition and condemned the prison sentences as “clear violation of freedom and freedom of expression”.
PEN International has also released a statement in which it has raised concerns about the trial of the members of Writers Association of Iran, and branded the sentences as clear violation of freedom of speech in the society.
Campaign to Free jailed workers in Iran (Free Them Now)
Shahla Daneshfar (shahla.daneshfar2@gmail.com)
May26,2019