Amnesty International Calls for Immediate Release of Ismail Abdi

Amnesty International has urged Iranian authorities to release Ismail Abdi, a board member of the Iranian Teachers' Trade Association, "immediately and unconditionally" and to end the "abuse of the judicial system to suppress" labor activists. The organization stated in its report that the Iranian judiciary "lacks independence" and is "under constant pressure from security and intelligence forces to issue heavy sentences against human rights defenders and other protesters." Amnesty International further noted that the lack of independence of the judiciary has allowed security and intelligence agents to illegally intervene in decisions such as prisoners' access to appropriate medical care, leave, and parole. Ismail Abdi, a imprisoned board member of the Iranian Teachers' Trade Association, has been on a hunger strike since Tuesday, April 23. A relative of Mr. Abdi told Radio Farda that his action was a protest against the denial of leave, lack of prisoner rights, and delays in handling his case. This board member of the Iranian Teachers' Trade Association has been sentenced to six years in prison. Previously, a British trade union awarded its "International Solidarity" prize to Ismail Abdi. In recent years, several activists for teachers' rights in Iran have been arrested and imprisoned. Currently, Mahmoud Beheshti Langroudi and Mokhtar Asadi are in prison, while Ali Akbar Baghaei is in exile. This situation prompted the Coordination Council of Iranian Teachers' Trade Associations to issue a statement in February of last year protesting the "continued repression of teachers in various cities by security agencies under the government." Amnesty International's statement also reported that security agents informed Mr. Abdi during interrogation that participation in international conferences is a "red line" for them. According to the organization, security agents constantly target prisoners who protest human rights violations from prison with "retaliatory actions." The statement reminded that labor rights defenders in Iran face various forms of harassment due to their trade activities, including forced early retirement, arrest, baseless security charges, and long prison sentences. Mehdi Farahi Shandiz and Mohsen Omrani are among other imprisoned labor activists. Several labor activists, such as Ebrahim Madadi and Davood Rezavi, two board members of the Tehran and Suburbs Bus Workers' Syndicate, are also awaiting verdicts from the Revolutionary Court. In recent months, legal cases have been filed against dozens of workers from the Haft Tappeh Sugarcane Company and the Hepco factory. Such actions have led to severe criticism from labor and trade organizations in Iran, international human rights organizations, and international labor unions. According to Amnesty International's statement and reports from Radio Farda; E.M/S. In this context, Ismail Abdi was returned from the hospital to Evin Prison. Criticism from two international labor and teachers' unions regarding the treatment of labor activists in Iran. The Iranian Teachers' Trade Association's protest against the "repression of teachers" by government security agencies. Atena Daemi and Golrokh Iraee, two political prisoners, have also gone on hunger strike. The changing battlefield of "proxy forces"; war against the people in the streets of Iran. The Iranian crisis; the responsibility of opponents and the potential radicalization of Iranian society. The death of the last Mossad representative in Tehran amid the Iranian crisis. Internet shutdown in Iran has exceeded 300 hours; reports of "evidence" of the killing of injured patients under treatment. Accounts from three witnesses about the situation in Isfahan province; "like war-torn areas." The death of the last Mossad representative in Tehran amid the Iranian crisis. Trump emphasized the "halt of executions in Iran": we do not know what will happen in the future. Trump announced an agreement to hold a meeting about Greenland in Davos.