Reza Shahabi, Hassan Saidi, and Keyvan Mohtadi Released from Prison

A professional organization reported that Reza Shahabi, Hassan Saidi, and Keyvan Mohtadi, three political prisoners, were released from Evin Prison on Sunday, September 2. According to the Coordination Council of Iranian Teachers' Trade Associations, Shahabi, Saidi, and Mohtadi, civil and trade activists who were arrested in May 2022 due to 'case fabrication by security agencies', were freed from the fourth ward of Evin Prison. Following the release of these activists, Hossein Taj, their lawyer, told Ensaf News that Saidi, Mohtadi, and Shahabi 'have been granted amnesty in 2023 due to a reduction in their sentences and will be released today.' Taj stated that after the acceptance of the retrial of their cases, they were sent to a parallel branch, which reduced each of their sentences to three years and six months, and 'after the issuance of the new ruling,' they 'are subject to the 2023 amnesty directive' and 'their cases are effectively closed.' Reza Shahabi, a board member of the Tehran Bus Workers' Syndicate, was arrested by security forces at his home on May 11, 2022, and transferred to the Ministry of Intelligence detention center known as Ward 209 of Evin Prison. In the preliminary court, he was sentenced to six years in prison for 'propaganda against the regime and conspiracy to commit a crime against national security,' along with additional penalties including a ban on leaving the country, membership in political parties, and social media activity, as well as a two-year residency ban in Tehran and neighboring provinces; a ruling that was upheld by the Tehran Court of Appeals. Additionally, see: Reza Shahabi's hunger strike halted following a promise for immediate attention to his demands. Hassan Saidi, another member of the Tehran Bus Workers' Syndicate, was arrested at his home by intelligence agents on May 18, 2022, and transferred to Evin Prison. His preliminary court ruling also sentenced him to a total of six years in prison for 'propaganda against the regime and conspiracy to commit a crime against national security,' along with similar additional penalties. The Court of Appeals upheld Saidi's ruling, but it was later overturned and reduced by the Supreme Court of the Islamic Republic. Furthermore, see: Hassan Saidi's prison sentence overturned by the Supreme Court of the country. Keyvan Mohtadi, a translator and workers' rights activist, was arrested along with his wife Anisha Asadollahi and several other civil activists after meeting with Cecile Couler and Jacques Parry, a French couple and employees of the 'French Educational and Academic Union,' on May 9, 2022, and was sentenced to six years in prison for 'conspiracy against national security' and 'propaganda against the regime.' Also, see: Notification of the Court of Appeals ruling to the activist couple; Anisha Asadollahi and Keyvan Mohtadi sentenced to over three and a half years in prison. The court session for Ismail Gerami, accused of 'participating in retirees' gatherings,' was held. The U.S. State Department and the 'International Council of Nurses' expressed concern over the detention of protesting nurses in Iran. A collapse in Tabas mine occurred simultaneously with miners' strikes; eight people were injured. Livelihood protests; gatherings of oil and gas workers in Aghajari and Assaluyeh, 32 days of strikes by Pars Wagon workers. Exploitation of 'contractors' of urban services from 'foreign children' and the continued silence of municipalities.