Ebrahim Madadi, Co-founder of Tehran Bus Workers' Syndicate, Arrested at Evin Prosecutor's Office

The Tehran Bus Workers' Syndicate announced the arrest of Ebrahim Madadi, one of the founders and long-time activists of this labor organization, by agents of the Islamic Republic's Ministry of Intelligence on Sunday, August 21. In a statement on Sunday, the syndicate referred to Mr. Madadi's previous arrest on April 28, 2015, in Tehran, noting that he was sentenced to 5 years and 3 months in prison in both the primary and appellate courts, a ruling later overturned by the Supreme Court. According to the report, following the annulment of the issued ruling, Ebrahim Madadi was also sentenced to one year in prison in the appellate court, which had not been enforced until now due to his follow-up and his numerous health issues. Nevertheless, this veteran labor activist was summoned again on Sunday and went to the execution branch, where he was arrested and transferred to Evin Prison, where he is currently being held in quarantine. The Tehran Bus Workers' Syndicate stated that the summons and arrest of Ebrahim Madadi occurred while he suffers from multiple health issues, including diabetes, high cholesterol, high blood pressure, and prostate problems, as well as hearing difficulties. He had retired several years ago and has a history of security and judicial confrontations with the Islamic Republic due to his defense of workers' rights and union activities, having been arrested and imprisoned multiple times. The Tehran Bus Workers' Syndicate condemned the 'unjust arrest, imprisonment, and ruling' against Ebrahim Madadi and called for the immediate annulment of the ruling and his unconditional release, along with all labor and civil activists. Madadi's arrest comes at a time when three other members of the Tehran Bus Workers' Syndicate, named Reza Shahabi, Davood Razavi, and Hassan Saidi, who were sentenced to prison on security charges, are serving their sentences in Evin. In recent years, alongside the expansion of workers' protests and laborers in various regions of Iran, the Islamic Republic's security and judicial confrontations with them and labor activists have intensified; these confrontations have faced widespread criticism from labor and professional unions. Ismail Gerami, a retired worker and labor activist, was also arrested. Ismail Abdi's message to the International Education Congress: 'I do not feel free with the continued imprisonment of Rasoul Badaghi and Cecile Koehler.' The Supreme Court rejected the request for retrial of Davood Razavi, a jailed labor activist, for the second time. Pressure continues on teachers and cultural activists in Iran; Sara Siyahpour was summoned to the Revolutionary Prosecutor's Office. The Iran Human Rights Campaign stated that the death sentence for Sharifeh Mohammadi reflects the dire situation of labor activists. Reza Shahabi's hunger strike was halted following a promise to address his demands.