Arrest of Jalil Mohammadi and Interrogation of Two Other Labor Activists in Sanandaj

The Islamic Republic's security confrontations with labor activists in Iran continue. The Free Union of Workers of Iran reported that Jalil Mohammadi, a labor activist, was arrested by the security forces of the Islamic Republic in Sanandaj on Thursday, January 24, and transferred to an unknown location. According to this report, Mr. Mohammadi's arrest was carried out without a judicial order at his home. The Free Union of Workers of Iran noted that this labor activist was arrested due to participating in a strike by shopkeepers and merchants in Kurdish cities in protest against the death sentences issued against Rishi Moradi and Pakhshan Azizi. According to this report, there is no information available regarding the location of detention and the charges against this labor activist. Jalil Mohammadi had previously been summoned to the Sanandaj Intelligence Office and interrogated in early November of this year. He also has a history of judicial confrontations due to his labor activities. Additionally, the Kurdistan Human Rights Network reported on Friday, January 25, that Frank Rafiei and Rafiq Karimi, two labor activists, were summoned to the Sanandaj Intelligence Office and interrogated for several hours. According to this report, Frank Rafiei is one of the detainees from the 'Women, Life, Freedom' movement. The Kurdistan Human Rights Network stated: 'It is said that the arrest and summons of these two labor activists are related to holding a general strike in various cities of Kurdistan, in protest against the issuance and execution of death sentences.' Following this nationwide strike in Kurdish cities, several residents of these cities have been arrested by the security forces of the Islamic Republic of Iran. In this context, Amjad Amini, the father of Mahsa (Zhina) Amini, announced on Friday that the judiciary of the Islamic Republic has accused him of 'propaganda against the regime' due to his protest against the death sentence of Pakhshan Azizi. The issuance of death sentences against Pakhshan Azizi and Rishi Moradi, two Kurdish civil activists, has faced severe protests from Iranian political and civil activists as well as the international community. Furthermore, in recent days, Kurdish cities in Iran have refrained from opening their shops and have gone on strike in response to calls from Kurdish parties to protest the issuance of death sentences against Rishi Moradi and Pakhshan Azizi. The condemnation of a labor activist in Khuzestan to more than three years in prison, the complicity of the Ministry of Labor with employers, and the introduction of protesting workers as troublemakers have been reported. Approximately 2,400 protest gatherings and 170 labor strikes have occurred in Iran. Labor and pension organizations have stated that the government has no base among workers. The Tehran Bus Workers' Syndicate criticized the Ministry of Labor for its 'anti-labor actions.'