Labor activists Asal Mohammadi and Hirad Pīrbadāghī arrested

Reports circulating on social media indicate that Asal Mohammadi and Hirad Pīrbadāghī, labor rights activists, were arrested hours after filing a complaint against solitary confinement in Islamic Republic prisons.

Zia Nabavi, a civil activist and former political prisoner, wrote on his Twitter page on Sunday, November 16: “Two weeks ago, they, along with several other labor activists, announced in a statement that they had been summoned by phone to the Ministry of Intelligence.”

Nevertheless, as Zia Nabavi reported, these labor activists had stated: “We will not surrender to policies of intimidation and threats.”

On Saturday, Asal Mohammadi and Hirad Pīrbadāghī, along with seven other civil activists and former political prisoners, filed a complaint against those responsible for and perpetrators of solitary confinement in support of the “No to Solitary Confinement” campaign.

Hours later, however, security forces entered the homes of these two citizens with “violence,” conducting searches and arresting them.

On Sunday, HRANA (Iran Human Rights Monitor), the news agency of a collective of human rights activists, reported that there is still no information about the reasons for the arrest, possible charges, and the location where these activists are being held, and the lack of information about these two citizens’ situation has increased their families’ concerns.

Arssh Sadeqi, a civil activist and former political prisoner, wrote on his Twitter page that Hirad Pīrbadāghī informed his family in a phone call that he is being held in Ward 209 of Evin Prison and has been charged with “assembly and conspiracy.”

Ward 209 of Evin detention center is under the authority of the Ministry of Intelligence of the Islamic Republic of Iran.

Asal Mohammadi and Hirad Pīrbadāghī were arrested in Ordibehesht of this year, coinciding with International Workers’ Day, for their presence at worker protest gatherings, charged with “disturbing public order,” and were temporarily released.

Source: Radio Farda