Azimzadeh Released, Shahabi Still on Hunger Strike

Many labor activists continue to face repression in Iran. Among the activists in jail, Reza Shahabi, the treasurer of Vahed Bus Workers Syndicate has been twice hospitalized in the course of 40 days since his hunger strike.

Following 49 days in jail, Jafar Azimzadeh was released from prison. During his imprisonment, Azimzadeh was pressured to disband the Free Union of Iranian Workers according to the Union. Azimzadeh was the head of the steering committee of the Union.

According to reports by Metal Workers Mechanics Syndicate, Reza Shahabi has been transferred to prison healthcare facilities in the last week. Shahabi went on strike on June 1 in Rajaishahr prison protesting his transfer from Evin prison and demanding his treatment outside prison compounds as suggested by the doctors.

According to Behnam Ebrahimzadeh defense committee,
On June 28, Behnam Ebrahimzadeh’s family members were summoned to the prison to visit with him following not having met him since the attack on ward 350 of the Evin prison on April 17. With his family members arriving at the prsion on June 30, six plain cloths officials accompanied Behnam’s wife and son to their house and took Behnam’s belongings with them.

Vahed Bus Workers Syndicate in a communique announced that on the eve of May Day, security forces had visited the home of Saeed Torabian , the spokesperson of the Syndicate, to arrest him and with him not being there, they had taken his belongings including his personal computer with them.

Iran Labor Report