Protest in Front of Parliament for the Release of Reza Shahabi; Security Forces' Response was 'Violent'

Social media reported that on Tuesday, September 5, a gathering was held in front of the Islamic Consultative Assembly to demand the release of Reza Shahabi, a jailed member of the board of directors of the Syndicate of Workers of Tehran and Suburbs Bus Company. Mr. Shahabi has been on a hunger strike for 28 days in protest against his re-arrest. This hunger strike began after this labor activist learned that the prosecutor's office had not approved his medical leave, meaning he must remain in prison for another 968 days. In this regard, the Syndicate of Workers of Tehran and Suburbs Bus Company reported that Reza Shahabi's health condition is 'critical' and 'half of his body is numb.' The gathering on Tuesday was organized following a call from Robabeh Rezaei, Reza Shahabi's wife. One participant in this gathering told Radio Farda that about 200 people attended the event and added that the police, security agents, and plainclothes officers tried from the very beginning to prevent the gathering. He also mentioned witnessing the arrest of three individuals by security forces, who were released shortly after due to the protesters' objections. According to this individual, the pressure was so intense that it was impossible to take photos of the clashes, and they even confiscated cameras from several participating students. Nevertheless, members of the Syndicate of Workers of Tehran and Suburbs Bus Company and students began marching, with police and plainclothes officers closely following them to prevent others from joining the protesters. In this context, the Syndicate of Workers of Tehran and Suburbs Bus Company announced on its website that the protest and demonstration by students, drivers, and workers of the company, along with labor activists and teachers in front of the parliament, was held in protest against the condition of imprisoned labor activist Reza Shahabi. According to this labor organization, the gathering 'was met with violence from the armed forces from the very beginning,' and participants marched in the street in front of the parliament due to the pressure from security forces and police. According to reports, demonstrators chanted slogans such as 'Student, Worker - Unity, Unity', 'Imprisoned Workers Must Be Freed', 'Worker, Student, Teacher - Unity and Solidarity', and 'If Shahabi is not freed, this situation will continue', and 'some people also supported and accompanied the demonstrators.' Reza Shahabi's re-arrest has drawn international criticism. So far, the International Transport Workers' Federation, the International Confederation of Trade Unions, five national labor unions from France, unions from Canada and Sweden, and the British Trade Union Congress have called for his release and that of other imprisoned labor activists. Meanwhile, according to Mehr News Agency, Abbas Jafari Dolatabadi, the Tehran prosecutor, stated on September 3 regarding Reza Shahabi's conviction: 'He has been convicted of national security crimes.' Typically, labor activists in Iran, including labor activists, are accused, tried, and imprisoned for 'actions against national security and public disorder.' Such actions have drawn criticism from human rights organizations and labor unions. In this context, two international labor and teachers' unions criticized the treatment of labor activists in Iran. The Syndicate of Workers of Tehran and Suburbs Bus Company reported that Reza Shahabi's condition is critical. The International Confederation of Trade Unions called for the immediate release of Reza Shahabi. The International Transport Workers' Federation expressed concern over Reza Shahabi's arrest. The prosecutor's office stated that Reza Shahabi must remain in prison for another 17 months.