Criticism from Two International Labor and Teachers' Unions on the Treatment of Labor Activists in Iran

Two international labor and teachers' unions have jointly criticized the treatment of labor activists in Iran. The International Transport Workers' Federation and Education International stated that "the union rights of activists in Iran are denied," adding that union leaders in Iran are arrested in connection with "their union activities and defense of their colleagues." In this statement, the two unions specifically expressed concern about the situation of Reza Shahabi, a imprisoned board member of the Tehran and Suburbs Bus Workers' Union, and Ismail Abdi, a imprisoned board member of the Iranian Teachers' Trade Association. Mr. Shahabi, who reported to Rajai Shahr Prison in Karaj 26 days ago following pressures from the prosecutor's office, went on a hunger strike in protest of having to remain in prison for another 968 days, which continues to this day. According to the Tehran and Suburbs Bus Workers' Union, the prosecutor's office has stated that it does not accept the medical leave granted to him. Meanwhile, Mr. Shahabi's wife, Robabeh Rezaei, told Radio Farda in an interview that the prosecutor's office had agreed to the forensic medical recommendation for medical leave, which allowed this labor activist to leave prison. Mr. Abdi, like other labor activists in prison, has been sentenced to prison on security charges and is currently serving a six-year sentence. Mac Urata, the head of the ground section of the International Transport Workers' Federation, in an interview with Radio Farda, pointed out that international labor unions are increasingly concerned about the crackdown on the independent labor movement in Iran, adding: "Mr. Shahabi and Mr. Abdi have been imprisoned on false charges." He also referred to the situation of the workers of Haft Tappeh Sugarcane Company: "Despite being under pressure, they have risen again to fight for their wages and labor rights." This official of the International Transport Workers' Federation noted that Iranian authorities have prevented the establishment of the Tehran Province Journalists' Trade Association, adding that their actions "contradict Iran's commitments to the International Labor Organization conventions; an organization of which they are a member and are obliged to implement these conventions." According to Mr. Urata, "a real labor movement must be free from any state control, and therefore the time has come for the Iranian government to accept this international perspective." He also mentioned the hunger strike of several political and ideological prisoners in Rajai Shahr Prison in protest of the "inhumane conditions" they are facing, stating: "Reza Shahabi has participated in the hunger strike in Rajai Shahr Prison alongside civil rights activists including Hassan Sadeghi, Saeed Masouri, Reza Akbari Monfared, Amir Ghaziyati, Abdolghasem Fooladvand, and Jafar Aghdami." Mac Urata also mentioned that Amnesty International has called on Iranian authorities to allow international observers to visit prisons in Iran. Meanwhile, the Iranian Teachers' Trade Association issued a statement regarding Reza Shahabi's hunger strike, calling for urgent attention to his situation and his release. This teachers' rights organization, referring to the security-judicial actions against labor activists such as Ismail Abdi, Mohsen Omrani, Mahmoud Beheshti Langaroudi, Ali Akbar Baghaei, Reza Moslemi, Taher Ghaderzadeh, and Aziz Ghasemzadeh, wrote: "Despite the promises made and contrary to the explicit text of the Constitution, which emphasizes the freedom of civil and labor organizations, the security culture, contrary to the promises of the President, has affected all activities of labor activists." The Teachers' Trade Association also stated that "the attribution of baseless charges to labor activists cannot stop the central demands of the majority of the working class in society." Reza Shahabi's hunger strike continues while previously the International Confederation of Trade Unions, the International Transport Workers' Federation, five national labor unions from France, a union from Canada and Sweden, and independent labor organizations have called for his and other imprisoned labor activists' freedom. The judicial authorities of the Islamic Republic of Iran have not responded to the protests regarding Reza Shahabi's re-imprisonment.