Warning from the Syndicate of Workers of Tehran's Bus Company: The Health Conditions of Three of Our Imprisoned Members are Critical

The Syndicate of Workers of Tehran and Suburbs Bus Company criticized the "indifference" of the judicial authorities of the Islamic Republic and Evin Prison regarding the deteriorating health conditions of Reza Shahabi, Davood Razavi, and Hassan Saidi, members of this labor organization, in a statement on Wednesday, February 7. According to this statement, Reza Shahabi has been deprived of medical leave and urgent surgery on his neck despite the confirmation of Evin Prison and Taleghani Hospital doctors regarding the necessity of immediate surgery due to his previous neck and back surgeries. Doctors have warned of serious and irreparable risks if this surgery is not performed. The labor organization also noted that 63-year-old Davood Razavi, suffering from gastrointestinal diseases and eye and knee problems, continues to suffer from the impossibility of continuing treatment for his diseases and has been denied any medical leave. According to the statement from the Syndicate of Workers of Tehran and Suburbs Bus Company, Davood Razavi has lost most of his teeth in prison due to gum and oral diseases and has developed indigestion due to the prison authorities' neglect in addressing his dental treatment, requiring urgent care. Reza Shahabi and Hassan Saidi were arrested in May of last year, and Davood Razavi in October of the previous year after meeting with Cecile Couler and Jacques Paris, two French labor activists. These three labor activists were subsequently sentenced to five years in prison each on security charges in the Islamic Revolutionary Courts. The Syndicate of Workers of Tehran and Suburbs Bus Company also wrote that these three imprisoned workers and long-time members of the syndicate were sentenced to "unjust and long-term imprisonment due to insisting on defending workers' rights and fabricated charges." According to this statement, the three were held for extended periods in solitary confinement and were interrogated. The Syndicate expressed serious concern for the deteriorating health conditions of its three imprisoned members, calling for immediate medical leave for them, an end to the fabrication of cases against them, the annulment of prison sentences, and the unconditional release of all workers, teachers, students, and all political and ideological prisoners. The arrest of these three labor activists and several others due to their meeting with Cecile Couler and Jacques Paris has led to widespread criticism from labor and teachers' organizations in Iran and also from labor unions and teachers worldwide. Currently, Cecile Couler, Jacques Paris, Keyvan Mohtadi, Rasoul Badaghi, and Reyhaneh Ansari-Nejad are serving their sentences. Since the victory of the February 1979 revolution, the Islamic Republic has confronted independent labor and professional organizations in Iran, leading to significant criticism against the regime.