Reza Shahabi Returned to Prison One Hour After Being Transferred to Hospital

The Syndicate of Workers of the Tehran and Suburbs Bus Company reported that Reza Shahabi, a imprisoned board member of this organization, was transferred to the hospital due to his deteriorating health on the forty-ninth day of his hunger strike. According to the syndicate's Telegram channel, Mr. Shahabi was moved to Madani Hospital in Karaj on Tuesday, October 4, and despite a 'strong directive from the doctor' for his hospitalization, he was returned to Rajai Shahr Prison in Karaj after one hour. This labor activist, after introducing himself to Rajai Shahr Prison following pressures from the prosecutor's office on August 9, realized that the prosecutor's office had not accepted his medical leave issued by forensic medicine and that he would have to remain in prison for approximately another thousand days. In response to this situation, he went on a hunger strike that continues to this day. According to reports from Rababeh Rezaei, Reza Shahabi's wife, this imprisoned labor activist 'was not easily able to recognize his wife and children.' The Syndicate of Workers of the Tehran and Suburbs Bus Company demanded the unconditional release of Reza Shahabi and stated that any physical harm to this syndicate member would be the responsibility of the prosecutor's office and security officials. The syndicate also reported that security officials met with Reza Shahabi and his family on Tuesday in Rajai Shahr Prison and promised to address his demands. According to this report, the most important demand of this imprisoned board member of the syndicate is the cancellation of the new prison sentence of 968 days that has been issued to him. Many requests for Mr. Shahabi's release have been made so far. In the latest instance, dozens of people gathered on Monday, October 3, in front of the Ministry of Cooperatives, Labor, and Social Welfare, demanding his immediate release. This gathering took place following a call from the Syndicate of Workers of the Tehran and Suburbs Bus Company. According to Telegram channels of this syndicate and other professional organizations, a number of workers, students, teachers, and retirees participated in this gathering. Arrest of a Board Member of the Free Union of Iranian Workers The Free Union of Iranian Workers announced on Tuesday that Mozafar Saleh Nia, a board member of this organization, was arrested at his workplace in Sanandaj by two plainclothes agents. According to the website Ettehad, affiliated with the Free Union of Iranian Workers, in response to the insistence of Mr. Saleh Nia's child to announce the reasons for his father's arrest, 'it was said that to find out about the status of Mozafar Saleh Nia's case, they should refer to the information office of the Sanandaj news headquarters.' According to this report, Mozafar Saleh Nia's wife went to this headquarters to follow up on his arrest, but 'they did not give her a clear and specific answer and warned her not to come back to this office for the next five days to follow up on her husband's status.' The arrest of this labor activist has not yet been denied by intelligence or judicial authorities. The Free Union of Iranian Workers condemned the arrest of Mozafar Saleh Nia and demanded his immediate release. This organization also expressed its deep concern over the arbitrary arrests of labor activists. In recent weeks, a number of labor and professional activists have been arrested and sentenced to prison on security charges. Such pressures on labor activists have led to protests from human rights organizations and labor unions worldwide. They have called for respect for workers' rights to organize and engage in union activities in Iran, referring to Tehran's international commitments.