Two Labor Unions in Iran Demand the Release of Sharifeh Mohammadi and Siros Fathi

Two labor unions in Iran have issued statements calling for the release of Sharifeh Mohammadi and her husband, Siros Fathi, two imprisoned labor activists in Rasht. The Tehran and Suburbs Bus Workers' Union noted the arrest of Ms. Mohammadi on December 5 of last year and Mr. Fathi on June 12 of this year, stating that Siros Fathi is currently being interrogated by agents of the Ministry of Intelligence in Rasht after his arrest by security forces. The labor union highlighted that their 12-year-old son, Aydin, who witnessed his father's violent arrest, is currently without his parents. In its statement, the Tehran and Suburbs Bus Workers' Union condemned the detention of workers and labor activists on 'baseless charges and harassment of their families' and demanded the 'immediate and unconditional release of Sharifeh Mohammadi, Siros Fathi, and other imprisoned workers and civil activists.' The Haft Tappeh Sugarcane Workers' Union also condemned the continued detention of Sharifeh Mohammadi and her husband, Siros Fathi, calling for their 'immediate and unconditional release' and that of 'other imprisoned workers.' Previously, the 'Free Sharifeh Mohammadi Campaign' reported that the Iranian Ministry of Intelligence has threatened the family members of Siros Fathi and Sharifeh Mohammadi to refrain from informing the public about their situation. The Ministry of Intelligence has not yet released any information regarding the reasons for Siros Fathi's arrest. Since his wife's arrest, Mr. Fathi has been pursuing her situation and has faced threats from security agents and judicial harassment. Sharifeh Mohammadi has been in temporary detention since her arrest on December 5, 2023. Her court hearing was held on June 9, where she was accused of having connections with a political organization, a charge her husband has denied. In recent years, as the economic situation for workers and other wage earners has worsened, the Islamic Republic's security and judicial crackdowns on labor activists, teachers, and retirees have intensified. Currently, several labor activists, teachers, and retirees are imprisoned on security charges, while others are free on bail. Among those imprisoned are Reza Shahabi, Hassan Saeedi, Davood Razavi, Rasoul Badaghi, Reza Aghdasi, Nahid Khodajoo, Anisha Asadollahi, Keyvan Mohtadi, Reyhaneh Ansarinezha, Sarvnaz Ahmadi, Nasrin Javadi, Zeinab Hamrang, Mehran Raouf, and Maziar Seyednejad. Siros Fathi, a labor activist, is under interrogation at the Gilan Intelligence Department and has called for the 'immediate and unconditional release' of Reza Shahabi, a jailed labor activist. The International Confederation of Trade Unions stated that labor rights are not respected in Iran. Officials at Evin Prison are 'preventing treatment and the issuance of a non-custodial sentence' for Reza Aghdasi. The appellate court ruling has been communicated to the activist couple; Anisha Asadollahi and Keyvan Mohtadi have been sentenced to more than three and a half years in prison.