Pressure on Ismail Bakhshi to Deny His Statements About Torture

Ismail Bakhshi's lawyer, representing the workers of Haft Tappeh Sugar Cane Company, reported that this labor activist is under pressure to deny his statements regarding his and Sepideh Ghalean's torture. Farzaneh Zilabi, Bakhshi's defense attorney, stated on Monday, January 7, in an interview with the website 'Rooidad24' that her client is being pressured by 'various individuals' to retract his statements. The lawyer did not specify which individuals or organizations are exerting this pressure. Meanwhile, the 'Independent Channel of Haft Tappeh Sugar Cane Workers' reported that Bakhshi and his family members are under 'continuous and severe pressure from security forces' to deny his written statements. According to this Telegram channel's report, after Bakhshi resisted this request, 'security agents contacted his family' and, amidst 'threats' against him and 'other family members, asked them' to deny these statements. Ismail Bakhshi, a representative of the Haft Tappeh Sugar Cane workers, has detailed the torture he and Sepideh Ghalean, who was arrested with him, endured, and has called for public accountability from the Minister of Intelligence of the Islamic Republic in a televised debate. Thirty-four student organizations from Iranian universities have also supported this request and expressed readiness to hold this debate. According to Bakhshi, agents from the Ministry of Intelligence 'beat' him and Ghalean and subjected them to 'various forms of vulgar sexual insults,' and his family has also been 'bugged.' He wrote on his Instagram: 'For 72 hours in my cell, I could not move, and I was beaten so badly that even the pain of sleeping was agonizing for me.' Meanwhile, Bakhshi's lawyer stated that her client's written statement 'is based on evidence and the necessary legal actions have been taken to pursue the matter.' Gholamhossein Mohseni Ejei, spokesman for the judiciary, stated on Sunday, January 6, regarding the issue of Bakhshi's 'torture' that 'if he files a complaint, the prosecutor will intervene.' Ejei's remarks come at a time when many political activists have previously reported the ineffectiveness of their complaints regarding torture during detention. Ali Motahari, the deputy speaker, and several other members of parliament have called for the investigation of Bakhshi's statements. Meanwhile, Heshmatollah Falahatpisheh, head of the National Security and Foreign Policy Commission of Parliament, stated that this commission will review the issue on Tuesday. According to Falahatpisheh, only 'relevant officials' will attend this session, and Bakhshi will not be present. Razi Nouri, a representative from Shush in parliament, also stated that he cannot confirm or deny Bakhshi's statements but promised to pursue the matter. Labor protests in Iran have previously faced imprisonment and flogging, including in June 2016, when 17 workers from the Agh-Dareh gold mine in West Azerbaijan were flogged following protests. Since the 1979 Revolution, political activists have repeatedly reported organized and prolonged torture during their detention, and some prisoners have died as a result of torture, with Sattar Beheshti being a recent example. The Kahrizak detention center is among those mentioned in the Iranian parliament's reports regarding the torture of prisoners there.