Foad Fathi, Labor Activist, Sentenced to 4 Years in Prison

Foad Fathi, a labor activist, has been sentenced to 4 years in prison by the Islamic Revolutionary Court in Tehran. According to the Free Union of Iranian Workers, Mr. Fathi has also been sentenced to a two-year travel ban, a two-year prohibition on membership in political and social groups, and a two-year restriction on residing in Tehran and its suburbs. This labor activist has been accused of membership in opposition groups, actions against national security, and propaganda against the regime. The security and judicial apparatus of the Islamic Republic typically levies such charges against labor activists, retirees, and teachers. Currently, several labor activists and teachers are imprisoned on similar charges. Such actions have drawn criticism from human rights organizations and labor unions worldwide. Foad Fathi was arrested by the security forces of the Islamic Republic in Tehran on November 4 of this year and transferred to Evin Prison. This labor activist has a history of previous arrests and judicial actions for his activities. Previously, Azad Khanchaz Zar, a labor activist from Marivan, had reported on his Instagram page last week that the Kurdistan Court of Appeals upheld his 6-month prison sentence. The Islamic Revolutionary Court of Marivan had issued this sentence against him for propaganda against the regime through social media, taking into account his previous detention. Mr. Khanchaz Zar was arrested by security forces in Marivan in late Azar last year and was released from the city’s prison on the first of Esfand of the same year after posting bail. The prison sentence of this labor activist has been upheld despite his indication that he has lung cancer and needs to begin treatment, including chemotherapy, as soon as possible. The Ahvaz Court of Appeals issued a decision to discontinue the prosecution of Payam Namie, a teachers' union activist. A hearing for the case of Farzaneh Zilabi will be held in the Ahvaz Court of Appeals. Exclusive; the indifference of the judicial authorities of the Islamic Republic to the dire physical condition of Younes Azadbar, a imprisoned labor activist. International labor organizations: The Iranian regime has intensified repression in the shadow of the Gaza war.