End of Ehsan Mazandarani's Sentence; Reza Shahabi 'Under Pressure to Return to Prison'

As reports emerge about the release of Ehsan Mazandarani, the former editor-in-chief of the Farhikhtegan newspaper, the Syndicate of Workers of the Tehran Bus Company has announced that despite the 'end of imprisonment' for Reza Shahabi, a board member of this syndicate, the Tehran prosecutor's office is putting him 'under pressure' to return to prison. According to ISNA news agency, Hoshang Pourbabayi, Ehsan Mazandarani's lawyer, announced on Saturday, February 11, that his client was released from prison on this day after the 'end of his sentence.' Mr. Pourbabayi had previously stated in an interview with ISNA on December 7 that according to forensic medicine, his client's illness 'is ongoing and his presence in prison exacerbates his condition.' He also mentioned that a request for conditional release for his client had been submitted to the prosecutor's office. Ehsan Mazandarani was sentenced to seven years in prison by the Tehran Revolutionary Court on charges of 'propaganda against the regime' and 'conspiracy and collusion to act against national security,' but this sentence was reduced to two years on appeal. He was arrested in November 2015 along with Afrin Chitsaz, Ehsan Mazandarani, and Saman Safarzadeh. The IRGC accused these journalists of being 'members of a Western government infiltration network,' but Ali Shamkhani, Secretary of the Supreme National Security Council of Iran, and Ali Motahari, a Tehran representative, confirmed that the aim of these arrests was 'political retribution.' Mr. Mazandarani had gone on hunger strike twice during his detention, once for over 50 days and another time for 18 days. Meanwhile, the website of the Syndicate of Workers of the Tehran Bus Company reported that Reza Shahabi, a board member of this syndicate, is 'under pressure' from the Tehran prosecutor's office to return to prison despite the 'end of his sentence.' Mr. Shahabi was arrested on June 12, 2010, and sentenced to six years in prison. According to this report, Mr. Shahabi underwent two surgeries (on his neck and back) during his imprisonment due to 'beatings by security agents' during his arrest and interrogation, and due to his 'very severe' physical condition, judicial authorities, after forensic confirmation and obtaining heavy bail, agreed to his medical leave for the remaining period of his sentence. The report states that considering this medical leave, Mr. Shahabi's sentence ended on May 5, 2015, and judicial authorities had also verbally announced this. According to this report, the Iranian government reported to the International Labour Organization that Reza Shahabi 'has been released from prison and has returned to work, while he is still dismissed and under pressure to return to prison.' The website stated that the Tehran prosecutor's office had informed Reza Shahabi via phone that three months of his medical leave had not been approved and he must 'return to prison.' The Tehran prosecutor's office also 'requested in writing and through repeated phone calls to the bail guarantor' to 'hand Mr. Shahabi over to prison' and 'otherwise the bail will be confiscated.' The Syndicate of Workers of the Tehran Bus Company protested this action by the Tehran prosecutor's office, demanding 'unconditional release' of Reza Shahabi and other labor activists, as well as the annulment of sentences issued against Ebrahim Madadi and Davood Razavi, two other members of this syndicate. Ebrahim Madadi was sentenced to five years and three months in prison for 'conspiracy and collusion to act against national security' and 'disruption of public order through participation in illegal gatherings.' Davood Razavi is also facing similar charges and the Tehran Revolutionary Court sentenced him to five years in prison.