Over 500 Trade Union and Civil Activists Call for Medical Care and Release of Jafar Azimzadeh
More than 500 trade union, civil activists, families of those killed in protests, and families of prisoners in Iran issued a joint statement regarding the sudden transfer of Jafar Azimzadeh, a labor activist and secretary of the board of directors of Iran’s Free Workers’ Union, to Rajai Shahr Prison in Karaj under the pretext of hospital admission, and his deteriorating physical condition during his hunger strike. They called for Azimzadeh’s immediate transfer to a hospital for treatment and his unconditional release. Mr. Azimzadeh, who began a hunger strike following his transfer from Evin Prison to a solitary cell in the secure ward of Rajai Shahr Prison on August 26, has also refused sugar intake for the past week. Over the past three days, nausea has prevented him from drinking sufficient water, and his body is rejecting fluids.
According to Hrana news agency, citing Iran’s Free Workers’ Union, more than 500 trade union and civil activists, members of prisoners’ families, and families of those killed in protests issued a joint statement. While criticizing violent treatment and pressure on labor activists, children, women, students, and other civil activists, they called for Azimzadeh’s transfer to a hospital and his release.
The signatories of this letter wrote: “For years, workers and teachers, retirees, nurses, and other segments of society have been arrested, whipped, and imprisoned for demanding minimum wage and basic pay.”
In this section of the statement, referring to this labor activist’s 63-day hunger strike in 2016, it states: “Today, Jafar Azimzadeh is in prison again. Despite his warnings at the onset of the coronavirus outbreak and calls for the release of all prisoners, not only were his warnings and demands ignored, but his temporary release was opposed and new charges and sentences were issued against him.”
The signatories concluded: “We, the signatories of this letter, while condemning the detention and imprisonment of trade union, social, and civil activists, call for the immediate and unconditional transfer of Jafar Azimzadeh to a hospital for treatment and his release.”
Regarding Jafar Azimzadeh, it should be noted that on Sunday, August 19, following random COVID-19 test results, Mr. Azimzadeh, along with 11 other inmates detained in Evin Prison, tested positive. On Sunday, August 26, the prison doctor identified Azimzadeh’s physical condition as urgent and issued orders for his immediate transfer to a hospital; however, this ultimately did not happen, and Mr. Azimzadeh was transferred to Rajai Shahr Prison instead of receiving proper medical care.
It is reported that upon Mr. Azimzadeh’s arrival at Rajai Shahr Prison, he was tested for coronavirus and was eventually told that his test result was negative.
This labor activist began a hunger strike following his transfer from Evin Prison to a solitary cell in the secure ward of Rajai Shahr Prison in Karaj on August 26, and has also refused sugar intake for the past week.
He cited the reasons for his action as: “Deception and transfer to solitary confinement in Rajai Shahr Prison instead of a hospital, failure to observe health protocols in combating coronavirus, spreading false news about the absence of coronavirus in Evin Prison through the ’20:30′ news outlet, leaving family members without information, psychological harassment and torture of his family, and the family’s distress at Tehran hospitals.”
Jafar Azimzadeh, while serving his six-year sentence in Evin Prison, was sentenced on August 12 of this year by Tehran Province’s Court of Appeals to an additional 13 months of imprisonment in another case.
Source: Hrana
