Reyhaneh Ansarinezhad Sentenced to 4 Years in Prison

The Islamic Revolutionary Court of Tehran has sentenced Reyhaneh Ansarinezhad, a labor activist, to four years in prison. Razieh Zaydi, Ms. Ansarinezhad's lawyer, announced on Thursday, July 27, that her client has also been sentenced to two years of deprivation of membership in political parties, two years of prohibition from activities in cyberspace and media, and two years of travel ban. Ms. Zaydi stated that the charges against this labor activist were 'gathering and colluding with the intent to act against national security' and that the conviction of this retired worker was based on a report from the Ministry of Intelligence. This lawyer described her client's case as 'full of contradictions' and 'disregarding the law' and criticized the judiciary for lacking independence in handling security cases. Razieh Zaydi characterized security cases as a result of 'baseless accusations' and complaints from 'security institutions,' adding that the verdicts issued in these cases are based on reports from security agents and 'without regard to the defenses of the accused and the lawyer.' Reyhaneh Ansarinezhad has been arrested several times by security agencies due to her labor activities. This labor activist was arrested in May of this year along with several other civil and labor activists while visiting the family of Mohammad Habibi, a imprisoned teacher. The Fars News Agency, close to the Revolutionary Guards, accused the detainees of 'membership in an organizational meeting' and having 'ties to anti-revolutionary Marxist groups, the Mojahedin, and French spies' without providing any evidence. Reyhaneh Ansarinezhad had previously been arrested by security agents last year and was temporarily released on bail. The security and judicial actions against labor activists, retirees, teachers, and other wage earners have drawn severe criticism from human rights organizations and labor unions worldwide. The Syndicate of Workers of the Tehran Bus Company condemned the 'fabrication of cases' and 'scenario-making' against labor activists. Continued security and judicial actions against labor and civil activists in Iran have led to a new wave of arrests of educators and civil activists ahead of 'Teacher's Day' in Iran. The Canadian labor organization has called for the cancellation of charges against labor activists in Iran. The Iranian Writers' Association stated that the fabrication of cases against activists is a sign of the 'government's fear.'