Situation of Reza Shahabi a well known Iranian worker activist is crititcal
1- Reza Shahabi, a member of the executive board of the Union of Workers of Tehran and Suburbs United Bus Company, who was injured from the neck and waist due to beatings of security agents during his arrest and interrogation in June 2010, has been arrested again and put to jail on the excuse that he has not finished his previous prison term because he was on medical leave. Now with order of Tehran’s prosecutor Reza Shahabi has been taken to jail since August 8, 2017 and has been sentenced to 968 days more jail sentence. In protest of this unfair sentence Reza has started a hunger strike since August 8, 2017. His physical situation is risky and critical.
2- Shapur Ehsani Rad, a dismissed worker and a former representative of the Saveh Rolling and profiles factory, a member of the executive board of the Free Union of Workers of Iran , was detained on August 11, 2017 by Branch 101 of the Court of Saveh and was sentenced to brutal and humiliating sentence of 30 lashes, and nine million Toman (2740 dollars) in cash. He has already been sentenced to jail in may 2015 on charges of “provoking the workers of Saveh Pipeline factory and disrupting public order”.
3- Esmail Abdi a well-known teachers; activist, who was released after a 38-day hunger strike, was arrested again on July 5, 2017, and has been transferred to Evin Prison. He is convicted to 6 years prison.
4- Ali Nejati a member of the executive board of the union of the workers of Haft Tapeh Cane suger industry has been summoned to the court. He has been sentenced to 6 months jail. And also Security forces, police and judicial authorities have arranged Security cases for more than 70 employees of the Haft Tape Sugar Cane Company because of taking part in the recent strikes of the Haft Tapeh Sugar Cane workers; protests to obtain their unpaid salaries. They were released on bail after protests by the factory workers.
5- Mohsen Omrani, a teacher’s activist from Bushehr city, was taken to prison after three days leave on the July 31st. He has been sentenced to one year jail.
6- Jafar Azimzadeh, president of the executive board of the Free Union of workers of Iran, who was released on bail after worldwide protests, is under constant pressure to return to jail. He has been sentenced to 6 years jail.
7- Mahmoud Beheshti a member of the governing board of the Teachers’ Trade Association is also under arrest to pass his 14 years jail sentence.
8- Recently, two Teacher activists, Taher Ghaderzadeh and Reza Moslem have been sentenced to 3 months and three years jail respectively.
Currently, many activists and labor leaders, teachers and social activists are imprisoned or under threat of arrest for their struggles.
Free Them Now calls on all labour unions and organisations to condemn the ongoing violation of the basic workers rights in Iran and condemn the whipping punishment for Shapoor Ehsani Rad and urge the government to immediately release Reza Shahabi, – Esmail Abdi, Mohsen Omrani, Atena Daemi and all political prisoners in Iran.
We appreciate your continued support for the workers’ struggles in Iran. We look forward for your response as soon as possible. You can show your support and solidarity with the Iranian workers by writing a support letter, sending a support video message to Free Them Now, or start a solidarity campaign etc.
Campaign to Free Jailed Workers in Iran (Free Them Now)
September 2, 2017
Shahla Daneshfar, Shahla.daneshfar2@gmail.com
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Please send your protest letters to Hassan Rouhani the president of the Islamic Republic of Iran by e-mail or post:
E-mail: media@rouhani.ir
Post:address:
President of the Islamic Republic of Iran
Palestine Avenue, Pasteur St., Pasteur Sq.
Tehran, Islamic Republic of Iran