Mahmoud Salehi Returned to Saqqez Prison Despite Doctor's Recommendation

The committee defending Mahmoud Salehi, a imprisoned labor activist, announced that he was returned to Saqqez Central Prison on Saturday, November 20, despite the recommendation of his treating physician. This committee, which is led by Najibe Salehi, Mahmoud Salehi's wife, accused the judiciary and the Ministry of Intelligence of having "jointly thwarted any efforts for Mahmoud Salehi's medical leave and that of his family." This labor activist was arrested by intelligence agents on November 7 to serve a one-year prison sentence but was transferred to the prison infirmary and then to Imam Khomeini Hospital in Saqqez on November 12 due to the worsening of his heart condition, where he was hospitalized in the intensive care unit. According to ILNA news agency, Mahmoud Salehi's family stated that he should be transferred to one of the hospitals in Tehran, Tabriz, or Urmia for continued heart treatment as per his doctor's recommendation. Samerand Salehi, Mahmoud Salehi's child, had previously told Radio Farda that his father had undergone heart surgery twice this year. Reports indicate that while Mahmoud Salehi was hospitalized, he was under the supervision of three prison guards and his legs were chained. This labor activist also needs to undergo dialysis twice a week due to the loss of his kidneys while in the Sanandaj Intelligence Detention Center, and he suffers from diabetes as well. Meanwhile, seven labor organizations in Iran issued a joint statement condemning the chaining of Mahmoud Salehi's legs as "an inhumane method left over from the brutality of slavery." The Free Workers Union of Iran, the Association of Electrical and Metal Workers of Kermanshah, the Syndicate of Haft Tappeh Sugarcane Workers, the Painters' Syndicate of Alborz, the Workers' Rights Defenders' Association, the Committee to Pursue the Establishment of Labor Organizations, and the Coordination Committee to Help Establish Labor Organizations emphasized the urgent and unconditional release of Mahmoud Salehi and held the highest judicial and executive authorities responsible for any physical harm inflicted upon him. Additionally, 536 labor, cultural, and social activists in Iran signed a statement protesting what they termed "inhumane treatment of Mahmoud Salehi." Raha Bahreini, an Amnesty International researcher on Iran, criticized the return of Mahmoud Salehi to Saqqez Prison despite his doctor's recommendation and also criticized the recent transfer of Reza Shahabi, a imprisoned member of the board of the Syndicate of Workers of Tehran and Suburbs Bus Company, to the hospital in handcuffs. Ms. Bahreini described such behaviors as "completely illegal" and indicative of mistreatment of political and ideological prisoners, adding: "This behavior is intended to harass and punish these prisoners further and inflict more pain and suffering upon them." This Amnesty researcher noted that such behaviors have also led to delays in the treatment of sick prisoners, stating: "According to international law, the use of restrictive methods such as handcuffs or leg chains is only permitted when there is a risk of escape or harm to oneself or others, and simpler control methods are insufficient. However, these prisoners are individuals who should not have been imprisoned and only acted peacefully to defend themselves and their rights. Nevertheless, they are treated like criminals." Previously, Sharon Burrow, the General Secretary of the International Trade Union Confederation, on November 16, in a letter to the Supreme Leader of the Islamic Republic, severely criticized the ongoing treatment of independent labor organizations and labor activists in Iran, emphasizing that Mahmoud Salehi should not have been returned to prison and all charges against him should be dropped. In this regard, Mehdi Kouhestani Nejad, an advisor to the International Trade Union Confederation, told Radio Farda that "the Confederation is closely monitoring the situation of workers in Iran." He also criticized what he termed the "unlimited cruelty" of the government towards labor activists, referring to the publication of a photo of Mahmoud Salehi with his leg chained to the hospital bed, stating that despite the government's "efforts to intimidate workers and labor activists, we are witnessing a rise in labor protests and the independent organization of workers." Criticism of the treatment of Mahmoud Salehi and other labor activists in Iran comes at a time when government officials typically speak of respecting the principle of workers' organization. Nevertheless, government and judiciary officials have not commented on Mahmoud Salehi's condition, including regarding the loss of his kidneys in 2015. In this context, security and judicial officials opposed the transfer of Mahmoud Salehi to a better-equipped hospital, and Mahmoud Salehi's family expressed concern about his physical condition.