Revolution Court Sentences Ismail Gerami to One Year in Prison for 'Participation in Pensioners' Protests'

Ismail Gerami, a labor and pensioners' rights activist, has been sentenced to one year in prison by the Tehran 'Revolution Court'. He is currently held in Evin Prison. The Iranian Pensioners' Council announced on Wednesday, September 21, that according to a ruling delivered to Ismail Gerami in prison, he was convicted of 'propaganda against the regime through participation in pensioners' protests'. The court session addressing the charges against this labor and pensioners' rights activist took place on September 7 this year in Branch 26 of the Tehran Revolution Court. According to the news website HRANA, which is affiliated with human rights activists in Iran, Zahra Rouhzad, Ismail Gerami's wife, stated that during this session, Judge Afshari accepted part of Mr. Gerami's defense and found some of the charges unsubstantiated. Previously, on August 8, Ismail Gerami's residence was searched by government forces, and some of his personal belongings, including his laptop, mobile phone, and national ID card, were confiscated. Ismail Gerami was summoned to the 'Shahid Moqaddas' prosecutor's office (Evin) and was arrested on August 21 after appearing at the prosecutor's office, subsequently being moved to the quarantine section of Evin Prison. After a few days, he was transferred to Ward 4 of Evin Prison. Additionally, in July of this year, Ismail Gerami was fined by Branch 1027 of the Tehran Criminal Court. He has a history of arrest and imprisonment due to his labor activism in recent years. In recent months, Mr. Gerami has repeatedly criticized the policies of the Islamic Republic regarding workers and pensioners in notes published on the Telegram channels of labor organizations. In one note, he stated that officials tell pensioners to go home, 'hug their knees in sorrow', pray and curse, and 'cry bitterly for their poverty and misery', saying, 'We will go to the streets enough to claim our rights. Victory is ours.' According to the trend of recent years, the government and judicial apparatus of the Islamic Republic impose such charges on labor activists, teachers, and pensioners, sentencing them to prison and other punishments. These actions have faced widespread criticism from labor and professional unions around the world.