Sep 02 2019

In an attempt to silence dissent, Iran sentenced more than 21 activists, workers and journalists to lashes and prison in August for participating in protests.

Labor activist Atefeh Rangiz, currently detained in the notorious Qarchak Prison in Varamin near Tehran, was sentenced to 11 years and six month of prison in addition to 74 lashes on August 31. She was detained in a Labor Day demonstration in Tehran on May 1.

Rasoul Taleb Moghadam, bus driver & member of the Syndicate of Workers of Tehran & Suburbs Bus Company was sentenced to 74 lashes, two years of prison, two years of exile, and a two year ban on using smartphones. He was also arrested during the Tehran Labor Day gathering in Tehran on May 1.

Journalist Marzieh Amiri who was also arrested during the Labor Day protest, was sentenced to 10 years and six months of prison in addition to 148 lashes on August 13. Six years of her prison term will be implemented.

Labor Activist Azarm Khezri (Nasrin Javadi), was sentenced to seven years of prison and 74 lashes for participating in the Labor Day protest. Five years of her prison term will be implemented. She was tried on August 6 by the Tehran Revolutionary Court.

On August 13, seven workers of the Haft Tappeh Sugarcane Factory in the southwestern city of Shush were sentenced to eight months of suspended prison and 30 lashes each.

According to the Haft Tappeh Sugarcane Syndicate, the workers were tried and sentenced by the 102ndBranch of the Shush Criminal Court.

On August 14, nine other Haft Tappeh Sugarcane workers were sentenced to eight months of prison and 30 lashes while another worker was acquitted. They were identified as Hossein Ansari Zadeh, Mohammad Khanifar, Feisal Sa’alobi, Sab Zahiri, Adel Samaie, Ismail Ja’adeleh, Bani Na’ami, Omid Azadi, Rostam Abdollahzadeh and Ali Bani Sadeh.

Last November, workers of the Haft Tappeh factory held gatherings, streets marches and protests for more than 20 consecutive days. They were protesting not receiving their paychecks and the privatization of the factory.

The protests were suppressed after security forces arrested, summoned and tortured labor leaders and workers.

Many activists are still languishing in prison.

Labor activist Farhad Sheikhi was sentenced to four months of prison and 5 lashes for participating in the Labor Day protest. His sentence has been suspended for two years.

Mohammad Taghi Falahi, the head of the Tehran Teachers’ Association, was sentenced to eight months of prison and ten lashes for participating in a teachers’ protest on Iran’s National Teachers’ Day. His sentence has been suspended for three years.

Source » irannewswire