Reza Shahabi Granted Medical Leave; 32 Lawyers Request His Full Release

One day after a statement from a group of lawyers requesting the release of Reza Shahabi, a prisoner and member of the board of the Syndicate of Workers of Tehran and Suburbs Bus Company, it was reported that he was granted a five-day medical leave starting Thursday with the approval of the prosecutor's office and prison officials upon posting bail. A photo of Reza Shahabi after his temporary medical release shared on social media shows signs of deprivation from medical services and treatment following two minor strokes and numbness on the left side of his face. Previously, on February 5, he was transferred to the hospital and after medical examinations, he was returned to Evin Prison. On Wednesday, February 7, 32 lawyers issued a statement calling for Shahabi's complete release to alleviate concerns from his family, colleagues, companions, and fellow workers. According to ILNA news agency, in their statement, these 32 lawyers noted that the International Labour Organization recognizes the right to independent organizations in its statutes and conventions 87 and 98, stating: "According to Convention 87 of the International Labour Organization, just as employers can have independent organizations, workers can also freely establish organizations without any discrimination and without prior permission." Among the lawyers who signed this statement are Hossein Ahmadi Niaz, Arash Kikhavsari, Masoumeh Fanaeian, Maryam Fathali Zadeh Ahangar, Nasrin Sotoudeh, Saleh Nikbakht, Mahmoud Alizadeh Tabatabai, Nasser Zarafshan, Youssef Molaei, and Mitra Azarm. The 32 lawyers in this statement, published on Wednesday, referred to Iran's membership in the International Labour Organization and added: "The Islamic Republic of Iran has joined many of its conventions and committed to implementing them." They also pointed out that "in domestic law, the Constitution, as the most important source of rights in Iran, recognizes the right to have organizations in Article 26." Article 26 of the Constitution states: "Political parties, associations, and recognized Islamic or religious minority organizations are free, provided they do not violate the principles of independence, freedom, national unity, Islamic standards, and the foundation of the Islamic Republic. No one can be prevented from participating in them or forced to participate in one of them." They added: "Shahabi, despite spending years of his sentence with ailing health, is still in prison in a sick physical condition and in need of medical care, treatment, and healing." Mr. Shahabi learned on August 9 that his medical leave had not been accepted by the prosecutor's office and that he would have to remain in prison for about a thousand more days. This labor activist went on a 50-day hunger strike demanding his release, which he ended after a promise from a "high-ranking security official" and requests from family, colleagues, and labor organizations in Iran and around the world. Meanwhile, due to pressures he faced during interrogation and imprisonment, Shahabi has developed health issues. Additionally, he has suffered two strokes in recent months, and according to a specialist doctor at Imam Khomeini Hospital in Tehran, his body cannot withstand prison conditions. Nevertheless, judicial officials recently transferred Reza Shahabi to Evin Prison without taking any action towards his release or treatment for his illnesses. This situation has drawn severe criticism from international labor unions and human rights organizations. Amnesty International, referring to Mr. Shahabi's brief transfer to the hospital on February 5, stated: he has been "deprived of access to medical services while facing a serious physical condition since his arrest in August of this year." According to Amnesty International's statement, "Reza Shahabi has been arrested and subjected to arbitrary detention, criminal prosecution, and unjust imprisonment solely for his peaceful activities in defense of workers' rights." The organization emphasized that it has always called on Iranian authorities to overturn Shahabi's sentence and release him immediately and unconditionally, noting that "he has been subjected to torture and other ill-treatment during his detention, including beatings that he claims have caused chronic back pain." According to Amnesty International, Mr. Shahabi's health has deteriorated during his four years of imprisonment due to "lack of access to adequate medical care and poor prison conditions." Reza Shahabi is not the only labor activist imprisoned on security charges. Reports indicate that Mahdi Farahi Shandiz, Ismail Abdi, Mahmoud Beheshti Langarudi, Mokhtar Asadi, and Mohsen Omrani are also imprisoned on similar charges. Additionally, several labor activists such as Ebrahim Madadi and Davood Razavi, two members of the board of the Syndicate of Workers of Tehran and Suburbs Bus Company, are awaiting verdicts from the Revolutionary Court. In recent months, legal cases have been filed against dozens of workers from the Haft Tappeh Sugarcane Company and the Hepco factory. Such actions have led to severe criticism from labor and professional organizations in Iran, global human rights organizations, and international labor unions. Meanwhile, Iranian officials claim that they recognize workers' right to organize.