Reza Shahabi Ends Hunger Strike Following Promises for Immediate Attention to His Demands

Reza Shahabi, a imprisoned labor activist, ended his hunger strike after three days, following assurances from officials at Evin Prison that his demands would be addressed promptly. According to the Telegram channel of the Syndicate of Workers of Tehran Bus Company, Shahabi, who requires urgent surgery due to severe back and neck problems, had previously requested conditional release and medical leave for treatment outside prison, which was opposed by the prosecutor's office. Reports have indicated that this illness is a result of torture Shahabi endured after his arrest in 2010. He also complained about the prison authorities' obstruction in sending him to the hospital for treatment. Following Shahabi's hunger strike, the deputy of health at Evin Prison visited him, inquiring about the reasons for his strike and his demands, and promised to pursue his conditional release and resolve the obstacles to his hospital transfer. In light of these promises, Reza Shahabi stopped his hunger strike on the night of July 20, 2023, and is awaiting the results of the prison officials' follow-up. Amnesty International recently called for Shahabi's 'immediate and unconditional release.' This human rights organization criticized his 'arbitrary detention' in Evin Prison and simultaneous 'denial of appropriate and timely medical care,' highlighting that 'Iranian authorities continue to prevent independent trade union activities, retaliating against workers and labor rights activists through unfair trials and imprisonment.' The International Confederation of Trade Unions also included Iran in its 2024 report as a country where trade union rights are not respected.