Payman Khoramian, Poet and Labor Activist, Sentenced to One Year in Prison

The 11th branch of the Gilan Province Court of Appeals issued a ruling sentencing Payman Khoramian, a poet and labor activist, to one year of imprisonment, a two-year travel ban, and the closure of his Instagram account. According to the Telegram channel 'Charter of Freedom, Welfare, Equality,' the court also revoked the two-year exile sentence to the city of Zabol in Sistan and Baluchestan Province that had been issued in the first trial. According to the HRANA news agency, this labor activist was sentenced on August 16 of this year by the 102nd branch of the Criminal Court of Astaneh Ashrafieh to one year of imprisonment, two years of forced residence in Zabol, a two-year travel ban, and the blocking of his Instagram account. The court session addressing his charges took place on August 14 without his presence or that of his lawyers. Subsequently, the appeals court for Payman Khoramian was held on September 19 in the 102nd branch of the Criminal Court of Astaneh Ashrafieh, and ultimately, in October of this year, his appeal was rejected. Previously, according to HRANA, the appeals court had confirmed the first trial's ruling against Siamak Ebrahimi and Shahrokh Ahmadi, two labor activists residing in Tehran, sentencing them to 5 years and 8 months, and 4 years of imprisonment respectively. These two labor activists were accused of 'gathering and colluding with the intent to commit a crime against national security.' Mr. Ebrahimi and Mr. Ahmadi were arrested by government agents of the Islamic Republic near their home in Tehran on February 7 of last year and were later released from Evin Prison after posting a bail of 700 million tomans. Their trial was held on July 17 of this year. In the past two years, the Islamic Republic's security and judicial actions against labor activists, teachers, and other wage earners have intensified. These actions have led to protests from labor unions and organizations worldwide.