Following the deterioration of Reza Shahabi's health, a imprisoned member of the Syndicate of Workers of Tehran Bus Company, Human Rights Watch issued a statement on Saturday, December 16, demanding his immediate release. The director of the Middle East division of this human rights organization has called for the 'immediate and unconditional' release of Mr. Shahabi. The Syndicate of Workers of Tehran Bus Company announced last Thursday on its Telegram channel that Reza Shahabi, a board member of this organization, had suffered a 'minor stroke' in prison but 'has not been sent to the hospital.' According to the Telegram channel of this syndicate and the Committee to Defend Reza Shahabi, the family of this labor activist learned during a visit on Wednesday, December 13, that 'the left side of Reza's face was drooping and there was a depression under his eye.' In this regard, Reza Shahabi informed his family that the doctor at Rajai Shahr Prison in Karaj had told him that he had suffered a minor stroke. The Syndicate of Workers of Tehran Bus Company had previously announced that the physical ailments of this labor activist were 'caused by the beating of security agents during his arrest in 2010 and the beating during interrogation.' This accusation has been repeated many times, but security and judicial officials of the Islamic Republic of Iran have not responded to it. Sarah Leah Whitson, the director of the Middle East division of Human Rights Watch, emphasized the need for Mr. Shahabi's release in the organization's statement on Saturday, saying: 'Allowing Reza Shahabi's health to deteriorate further in prison, especially when he is imprisoned solely for his peaceful activism, is cruel and unacceptable.' The Syndicate of Workers of Tehran Bus Company, considering that Reza Shahabi's sentence has ended and that he is 'still imprisoned for further harassment and unlawfully,' has called for his immediate and unconditional release. When Reza Shahabi presented himself to Rajai Shahr Prison in Karaj under pressure from the prosecutor's office on August 9 of this year, he learned that his medical leave, which had been prescribed by forensic medicine, had been rejected by the prosecutor's office, and he had to remain in prison for another 968 days. In response to this situation, Reza Shahabi went on a hunger strike. So far, several labor organizations in Iran, as well as the International Transport Workers' Federation, the International Confederation of Trade Unions, and the Global Union of Industrial Workers, have called for Reza Shahabi's release.
Human Rights Watch Calls for Immediate Release of Reza Shahabi
Human Rights Watch has called for the immediate release of Reza Shahabi, a labor activist whose health has severely deteriorated in prison. Shahabi suffered a minor stroke and has not been sent to a hospital, raising concerns about his treatment and the conditions of his imprisonment. His case highlights ongoing issues of human rights abuses in Iran, particularly against political prisoners.
👥 Key Players
📰 What Happened
Reza Shahabi, a labor activist imprisoned in Iran, suffered a minor stroke while in custody, prompting Human Rights Watch to call for his immediate release due to deteriorating health conditions. Shahabi's imprisonment has been criticized as politically motivated and unlawful.
- Shahabi has been in prison since August 9, 2023, despite his medical leave being denied.
- He has previously faced physical abuse during his arrest and interrogation in 2010.
💡 Why It Matters
📚 Background
Iran has a history of suppressing labor movements and political dissent, with activists often facing imprisonment and harsh treatment. Shahabi's case is emblematic of broader struggles for workers' rights in the country.
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