Prison Sentence for Teacher's Union Member; Three Labor Activists Tried in Sanandaj

One of the defense lawyers for Mohammad Habibi, a board member of the teachers' union, announced his client's sentencing to 10 and a half years in prison, with the maximum enforceable term being seven and a half years. According to ISNA news agency, Amir Raisian stated that Mohammad Habibi was sentenced by the Revolutionary Court to seven and a half years for 'conspiracy to commit a crime against national security,' 18 months for 'propaganda against the regime,' and 18 months for 'disturbing public order.' He noted that under Article 134 of the Islamic Penal Code, all of Habibi's sentences are increased by one and a half times, and the most severe punishment is enforceable. According to Article 134 of the Islamic Penal Code, enacted in 2013, 'in crimes subject to punishment, if the committed crimes do not exceed three, the court will impose the maximum penalty for each of those crimes, and if the committed crimes exceed three, the penalty for each will be determined to not exceed the maximum penalty plus half of that.' In each of these cases, only the most severe punishment is enforceable, and if the most severe punishment is reduced or made unenforceable for any legal reason, the next most severe punishment will be enforced.' ISNA reported that Amir Raisian added that the Revolutionary Court also sentenced Mr. Habibi to '74 lashes and a two-year prohibition from political and social party activities and a prohibition on leaving Iran as an additional punishment.' In recent years, labor activists have been sentenced to prison on security charges, leading to protests from human rights organizations and labor unions worldwide. According to ISNA, Mr. Habibi's defense attorney announced that this ruling is preliminary and stated, 'We will appeal this ruling within 20 days.' Mohammad Habibi was arrested on May 9 of this year during a protest gathering of educators in front of the Planning and Budget Organization. According to Mohammad Habibi's family and teachers' unions, Mr. Habibi was beaten by officers during his arrest, and they dragged him on the ground, causing injuries. A trial session for three labor activists was held on Saturday in Sanandaj. Previous reports indicated that Yadollah Samadi, Jamil Shahabi, and Armin Sharifeh were summoned to the Revolutionary Court of Sanandaj. Mr. Samadi wrote on his Facebook page that he and Messrs. Shahabi and Sharifeh were tried on charges of propaganda against the regime and membership in parties. He added that these three labor activists strongly rejected the allegations against them, calling them 'unfounded.' According to Mr. Samadi, the verdicts from the Revolutionary Court of Sanandaj are expected to be issued in the coming days. Yadollah Samadi and Jamil Shahabi, board members of the Sanandaj Bakers' Union, were arrested during the International Workers' Day gathering on May 1 in Sanandaj and were later released on bail. Armin Sharifeh, a member of the seasonal and construction workers' union in Sanandaj County, was also arrested after being summoned to the Sanandaj Intelligence Office on May 7 and was released on bail after several days. Labor activists have reported that security and judicial actions against protesting workers and labor activists have intensified in recent years, with many being sentenced to prison or even lashes. These actions have led to strong protests from labor unions and human rights organizations worldwide.