Petition with 1000 Signatures Demanding the Release of Reza Shahabi

As three weeks have passed since Reza Shahabi, a imprisoned member of the Syndicate of Workers of Tehran Bus Company, began his hunger strike, at least 1000 people have signed a petition calling for his immediate and unconditional release. Mr. Shahabi presented himself to Rajai Shahr Prison in Karaj on August 9, following pressures from the prosecutor's office to return him to prison. Reports indicate that judicial authorities have repeatedly pressured this labor activist over the past year to return to prison. According to the Syndicate of Workers of Tehran Bus Company, 'the prosecutor's claim of five months of absence from Shahabi's six-year prison sentence' was made while he had seen 'the letter of freedom and completion of his six-year sentence dated September 9, 2015, in his prison file' upon his return to prison. Following his return and learning that his medical leave was not accepted and the prosecutor's office stated he must remain in prison for 968 more days, Reza Shahabi began his hunger strike. Meanwhile, according to the Telegram channel of the Syndicate of Workers of Tehran Bus Company, at least 1000 people wrote in a petition: 'The crime of Reza Shahabi and other members of the Syndicate of Vahed is the establishment of an independent organization from the government and employers to achieve their demands, for which they have been fired, arrested, and even beaten.' They added: 'This imprisoned worker underwent two surgeries on his neck and back due to physical injuries caused by the violent actions of security agents during his arrest and interrogation, and due to the unbearable conditions of imprisonment, his medical leave was approved step by step until the end of his sentence by forensic medicine. However, security and judicial officials illegally considered all of Reza Shahabi's medical leave as absence and announced that he must stay in prison for another 968 days.' In the meantime, Robabeh Rezaei, the wife of this labor activist, told Radio Farda that the prosecutor's office has not provided a 'proper response' to her protests regarding her husband. According to Ms. Rezaei, contradictory statements have been made regarding the duration of her husband's imprisonment, ranging from three months to 968 days. She also expressed serious concern for his health, stating that during her last visit to Rajai Shahr Prison, she observed that he was suffering from severe headaches and back pain, and his blood sugar was low. Nevertheless, he was in good spirits. Robabeh Rezaei also pointed out that Mr. Shahabi had previously seen the ruling for the end of his imprisonment, which the prosecutor's office stated would only be executed if he remained in prison. This issue arose while Reza Shahabi was on medical leave with the permission of forensic medicine. Reza Shahabi's hunger strike continues while the International Confederation of Trade Unions, the International Transport Workers' Federation, five national labor unions from France, a union from Canada and Sweden, and independent labor organizations have previously called for his release and the release of other imprisoned labor activists. Iranian judicial authorities have not responded to the protests regarding Reza Shahabi's re-imprisonment.