Mustafa Zamani Arrested in Isfahan Refinery; Reza Aghdasi Sentenced to 4 Years in Prison in Tehran

Mustafa Zamani, a labor activist involved in nationwide oil and gas project strikes, has been arrested by security agents of the Islamic Republic in Isfahan. Simultaneously, Reza Aghdasi, an imprisoned labor activist, has been sentenced to four years in prison. According to the Telegram channel of the Free Union of Iranian Workers, Mustafa Zamani, a project welder, was 'abducted' by plainclothes forces on Sunday, January 24, during a work negotiation meeting with someone who introduced himself as a contractor. The report states that Zamani's family and close ones have no information about his fate after contact from 'security forces under the name of a contractor' and leaving home for work. Mustafa Zamani, from the city of Izeh in Khuzestan province, had previously been arrested by the intelligence agents of the Revolutionary Guards in that city. The Free Union of Iranian Workers reported that Zamani has been actively involved in labor protests in the South Pars region, as well as in Fooladshahr, Izeh, Hafshejan, and gatherings in front of the Islamic Consultative Assembly and the Ministry of Oil that led to wage increases for workers. Meanwhile, Telegram channels belonging to labor organizations reported that Reza Aghdasi, a labor activist and one of the dismissed workers of Iran Khodro, has been sentenced to four years of prison on security charges. Additionally, it was reported that Aghdasi, who has been detained in Evin prison despite being ill since November, has been summoned and threatened with imprisonment several times along with his wife during last year's protests over the death of Mahsa Amini in the custody of the morality police. At the same time, Karim Sayahi, a dismissed worker of the National Industrial Steel Group in Ahvaz, has begun a sit-in in front of the factory since Wednesday morning. Sayahi was among six workers who were dismissed in 2022 following labor gatherings of the National Industrial Steel Group. The Khuzestan Labor Department issued a ruling for his reinstatement after his dismissal, but factory managers have prevented his entry. Ali Mohammadi, CEO of the National Industrial Steel Group, reacted to Sayahi's sit-in by stating to ILNA news agency that 'the security council had previously sent us a letter stating that he played a key role in the gatherings and should not be reinstated. We consider the order of the Khuzestan security council to be mandatory.' However, the public relations office of the Khuzestan governorate stated that the security council and the governorate have not yet made any comments regarding Sayahi's employment or his return to work. In recent years, alongside protests by workers, teachers, retirees, and other wage earners, security and judicial crackdowns on them and labor and professional activists have intensified. The crackdowns on workers, teachers, and retirees have drawn widespread criticism from labor and professional organizations worldwide. United Nations reporters and human rights organizations have described such arrests as 'arbitrary' and have repeatedly called for respect for the right to peaceful assembly by the authorities of the Islamic Republic. Narges Mansouri was transferred to the hospital after a 23-day hunger strike from Evin prison. Two imprisoned teachers are on a hunger strike 'to the death' protesting the unjust court sentences. Sanandaj intelligence has pressured Sharifeh Mohammadi to obtain a 'forced confession.' Ongoing labor issues in South Pars; the government threatened the protesters. Payam Farhangian, a labor activist, has been imprisoned. Several labor and professional organizations stated: the government wants to push the people back with executions and repression.