Concerns from Two Labor Organizations About the Health Condition of Jafar Azimzadeh

The Free Union of Workers of Iran and the Syndicate of Workers of Tehran Bus Company have reported that Jafar Azimzadeh, a imprisoned labor activist who has gone on an indefinite hunger strike, was transferred to the hospital on June 1 due to serious health deterioration and kidney problems. According to the report, Mr. Azimzadeh was returned to Evin Prison after refusing to receive IV fluids and requesting treatment for his kidneys. These two labor organizations expressed concern over Jafar Azimzadeh's condition, stating that his request for kidney treatment in the hospital has not been addressed. Jafar Azimzadeh, the head of the board of the Free Union of Workers of Iran, has been on an indefinite hunger strike since April 29, demanding the cessation of security charges against workers and labor activists as well as other trade union activists. Last year, he was sentenced to six years in prison by the Islamic Revolutionary Court in Tehran on security charges and has been in prison since then. Security charges have been levied against this labor activist at a time when many trade union activists, especially labor activists and teachers' rights advocates, have been sentenced to prison under similar charges in the Islamic Revolutionary Courts in recent years. Meanwhile, labor activists and organizations have rejected such charges, stating that the government is trying to prevent labor activities in Iran. However, Iranian officials have denied such allegations. Nonetheless, Ban Ki-moon, the UN Secretary-General, recently expressed concern in a report about the prevention of labor and teachers' organizations' activities, stating that union activists are under pressure for protesting against inequality, low living standards, and delayed wages. In this context, reports from some labor organizations indicate the deterioration of Jafar Azimzadeh's health. Akram Rahimpour, the wife of this imprisoned labor activist, confirmed this to Radio Farda, saying: 'Mr. Azimzadeh has suffered severe weight loss, low blood pressure, severe kidney pain, and significant vision loss, and he is not in good condition at all.' Ms. Rahimpour pointed out that judicial officials have ignored her husband's requests, adding: 'No one from the judiciary has gone to speak with him. When I went to the court on the eighteenth day of Jafar's hunger strike, I asked the prosecutor when they would check on him. Do you want him to go to the hospital and then ask him what his pain is?' Meanwhile, the Ettehad website, belonging to the Free Union of Workers of Iran, reported that a new case has been opened against Jafar Azimzadeh in the Islamic Revolutionary Court of Saveh. Akram Rahimpour provided further explanations on this matter: 'Last year, Mr. Ehsani Rad, a member of the Free Union of Workers of Iran, was arrested due to the strike of workers at the Saveh profile factory, of which he was a representative. Mr. Azimzadeh had gone to court with Mr. Ehsani Rad's family to assist them and was arrested there, spending 20 days in prison during which we had no news of him until he was released on a 100 million toman bail. Now they have opened a case against him with charges such as public disturbance and actions against national security.' So far, several labor organizations, including the Free Union of Workers of Iran, the Syndicate of Workers of Tehran Bus Company, the Workers' Rights Defenders Association, and the International Alliance in Support of Workers in Iran, have called for the fulfillment of Jafar Azimzadeh's demands and the release of him and other imprisoned trade union activists. Meanwhile, more than 3,500 people have protested in a letter to the Article 90 Commission of the Islamic Consultative Assembly against what they termed the 'securitization of labor and social activities' by the Iranian judiciary. According to the Ettehad website, signatories of this letter supported Jafar Azimzadeh's demands, who has been on an indefinite hunger strike since April 29, calling for the cessation of security charges against labor activists and other trade union activists. The signatories also demanded the removal of security charges from all trade union and social activists' files and the immediate and unconditional release of Jafar Azimzadeh. According to this report, the original letter was delivered to the Article 90 Commission of the Assembly on Tuesday, with a copy sent to the Presidential Office and the Judiciary. Previously, the International Federation for Human Rights and its member organizations had also submitted a report to UN special experts regarding what they termed the suppression of union activists and workers and the gross violation of labor rights in Iran. This report mentioned security charges such as 'actions against national security, propaganda against the regime, and insulting the leader' that have been levied against union activists in recent years. In this context, the International Federation for Human Rights and its member organizations have urged UN special experts to call on Iranian officials to end what has been termed the suppression and judicial harassment of labor activists and to respect labor rights.