Several Labor and Teacher Activists Arrested in Various Cities in Iran

Reports from Iran indicate the continued arrest of labor activists and teachers, including in the cities of Sanandaj, Qorveh, and Kermanshah by the security forces of the Islamic Republic in recent days. In this regard, the Free Union of Iranian Workers reported the arrest of two labor activists in Sanandaj by security forces. According to this union, on Tuesday, September 19, two labor activists named Khabat and Ramyar Dehdar were arrested by security forces, and their personal belongings were confiscated. Reports indicate that Khabat Dehdar, a labor activist and former political prisoner, was arrested on October 20, 2022, during nationwide protests and was released from Sanandaj prison on November 7, 2022, after posting bail. The arrest of civil and labor activists has intensified in the days leading up to the anniversary of the death of Mahsa Amini while in custody of the 'morality police.' In this context, the Hengaw Human Rights Organization announced on September 13 that Majid Hamidi, a labor activist from Sanandaj, was arrested in his shop on Sirous Street in this city. Prior to that, Omid Asadi, another labor activist from Sanandaj, was arrested on September 10 during a raid by government forces at his workplace. The Coordination Council of Iranian Teachers' Trade Unions reported that Abdullah Abdolmaleki, a retired teacher from Qorveh, was arrested by the Qorveh Intelligence forces after protesting against the beating of protesting men and women by government agents and was transferred to an unknown location. The council emphasized the need for the immediate release of this teacher and called for an end to the security forces' fabrications. According to this council, Mahmoud Safdari, a teachers' union activist from North Khorasan province, was arrested on the night of September 16 by the Revolutionary Guards' intelligence agents and transferred to an unknown location. Additionally, Farideh Ghahramanifar, a retired teacher and activist from the Retired Teachers' Association of Kermanshah, was arrested by security forces without a judicial order and transferred to an unknown location. Several teachers, including Jafar Ebrahimi, Rasoul Badaghi, Mahmoud Malaki, Aziz Ghasemzadeh, Nahid Shirpichah, Zeinab Hamrang, Hashem Khvastar, and Anoush Adeli, are imprisoned, and many others are facing administrative and security pressures. The trial of Kamran Sakhtemangar, a labor activist in Sanandaj, was held without a lawyer on Sunday, September 17, according to several labor organizations. He was charged by the prosecutor and the Sanandaj intelligence department with 'calling for protests and strikes in response to the death of Mahsa Amini through media interviews, participating in protest gatherings last autumn, publicly supporting the family of Ramin Hossein Panahi, and encouraging people to protest and take to the streets against the regime through social media and collaborating with Kurdish political parties.' In this context, Kamran Sakhtemangar defended himself against the charges in court. At least hundreds have been arrested on the anniversary of Mahsa Amini's death; several other artists have also been imprisoned. Yashar Tabrizi was transferred to 'Block 204' of Evin Prison. Widespread arrests occurred on the anniversary of Mahsa Amini. Thirteen political prisoners in Qazalhesar went on hunger strike in solidarity with the protesters on the anniversary of Mahsa. Jafar Ebrahimi, a prisoner teacher in Qazalhesar, was transferred to the hospital due to his deteriorating health. Education International called for the immediate release of all imprisoned teachers in the Islamic Republic.