The Wife of Sharifeh Mohammadi, Imprisoned Labor Activist, Arrested in Rasht

Sirus Fathi, the husband of Sharifeh Mohammadi, an imprisoned labor activist, was arrested by the Iranian government forces in Rasht on Tuesday, June 11. The Instagram page "Free Sharifeh Mohammadi" announced the news of Mr. Fathi's arrest, stating that he was pursuing the release of his wife, who has been in temporary detention for over six months. This page, which publishes news related to Ms. Mohammadi, emphasized that the couple "has committed no crime and that labor and social activities are the inherent and undeniable rights of all citizens." So far, the reason and location of Sirus Fathi's detention have not been disclosed by the Iranian security and judicial authorities. Currently, Aydin, their 12-year-old son, is staying with a family friend. Sirus Fathi's arrest occurred in the context of Sharifeh Mohammadi's court hearing, which took place on Sunday, June 9, at the first branch of the Islamic Revolutionary Court in Rasht. Sharifeh Mohammadi was arrested by agents of the Iranian Ministry of Intelligence in Rasht on December 5 of last year and was transferred to the Sanandaj Intelligence Department after 20 days. During her detention at the Sanandaj Intelligence Department, reports of physical abuse and torture emerged. Ms. Mohammadi was returned to Lakan Prison in Rasht on February 28. In a note published on the Instagram pages of her husband Sirus Fathi and "Free Sharifeh Mohammadi," she reflected on the "hard and heavy" hours she endured over the past six months, mentioning the abuse during detention, solitary confinement, the pain of being away from her child, and the deprivation of in-person visits with her family. The imprisoned labor activist in Lakan Prison wrote, "In these six months, there were hours that passed hard and heavy for me, but I never looked back. When the interrogation papers were slammed on my bruised face, when I was transferred from solitary confinement to the general ward after three months, or when I held my dear Aydin in my arms after three months and saw Sirus during the first visit after solitary confinement, tears streamed down his face upon seeing my smiling face." According to this report, her charge is alleged connections with the Komala Party. Previously, her husband denied any connection she had with opposition organizations. In this regard, the Telegram and Instagram channel "Women and Society" stated: "The baseless and false accusations against Sharifeh Mohammadi are, in fact, a severe revenge that the Islamic Republic takes on social and labor activists." Typically, Iranian security and judicial authorities accuse labor, professional, and political activists of connections to opposition organizations or hostile countries. These accusations have always been denied by detained activists. Nevertheless, Islamic Revolutionary Courts have sentenced detained activists to prison, exile, lashes, and other punishments based on these accusations. Currently, a number of labor, professional, and retired activists are imprisoned on security charges. The court for Sharifeh Mohammadi, the imprisoned labor activist, will be held on June 9. An open letter from Reza Shahabi and Davood Razavi criticized the International Labor Organization (ILO) for its inaction regarding the violation of workers' basic rights in Iran. The "hard and heavy" hours of Sharifeh Mohammadi in prison; a labor organization called for the release of Shahabi, Saeedi, and Razavi.