Amnesty International: Ghalean and Bakhshi at Risk of Torture and Further Mistreatment

An Amnesty International official expressed concern on Monday, January 21, regarding the renewed detention of Sepideh Ghalean and Ismail Bakhshi, stating that the organization demands their immediate release. Sepideh Ghalean, a social and civil activist, and Ismail Bakhshi, a representative of the Haft Tappeh sugarcane workers, were arrested on Sunday, January 20, following the broadcast of the program 'Burnt Design' on Iranian television. Ghalean's father stated that they were not shown a warrant for the arrest and were beaten. Raha Bahraini, a researcher on Iran at Amnesty International, told Radio Farda that these renewed arrests indicate that Iranian authorities are trying to create an atmosphere of fear to prevent the continuation of workers' rightful activities. Bahraini added that Amnesty International is deeply concerned about the situation of Ghalean and Bakhshi as they are at risk of further torture and mistreatment. Amnesty International is calling on Iranian authorities to release these labor activists and to create an environment where workers can pursue their peaceful demands. In recent weeks, news regarding the torture of Ismail Bakhshi and Sepideh Ghalean has received widespread attention, especially following the broadcast of what the Islamic Republic's state television called their 'confessions.' Ismail Bakhshi was arrested in late November and remained in detention until late December. In his first statements after his release, he claimed that during the initial days of his detention, he was tortured 'to the point of death' without any reason or explanation. Sepideh Ghalean, who was also arrested during labor protests alongside Bakhshi and other Haft Tappeh workers, has described her and Bakhshi's torture. Following this, Iranian state television aired a documentary titled 'Burnt Design,' which contained interrogation documents of several detained protesters from the labor protests in Ahvaz and the 'confessions' of Sepideh Ghalean and Ismail Bakhshi regarding the protests of Haft Tappeh workers. This 'documentary' labeled the activities of Bakhshi and Ghalean, whose claims of torture have been denied by judicial and governmental authorities, as part of a 'foreign conspiracy.' Farzaneh Zilabi, Bakhshi's lawyer, reacted to the airing of 'Burnt Design,' describing it as 'manipulating public opinion' and 'betraying the people and audience' of state television, stating that this action constitutes a 'crime.'