Labor Activist Ismail Bakhshi Temporarily Released on 750 Million Toman Bail After Months in Detention

Ismail Bakhshi, a labor activist who has been in detention for approximately one year and faces a heavy 14-year prison sentence, was temporarily released on a bail of 750 million tomans.

Ismail Bakhshi, a labor activist, has been in detention since last February. He was temporarily released on Wednesday, October 30.

Farzaneh Zeilabi, Mr. Bakhshi’s lawyer, had previously announced that her client would be released today, while also stating that “due to delays by the Dezful Prosecutor’s Office in depositing the bail, Ismail Bakhshi’s release was postponed.”

Ismail Bakhshi is a labor activist who was arrested during the protests of Haft Tappeh sugar cane workers and, after his release, announced that he had been tortured. The statements of this labor activist led to his re-arrest in February of last year along with Sepideh Qolian, a civil activist.

Forced confessions by Bakhshi and Qolian were also broadcast on television after their arrest, and the airing of these confessions drew considerable criticism.

On Saturday, October 25, six labor and civil activists, including Sepideh Qolian, Marzieh Amiri, Amir Hossein Amiri, and Atefeh Rangriz, were temporarily released on bail.

Sepideh Qolian’s lawyer announced on Sunday that his client’s release bail was set at 500 million tomans.

The United States has repeatedly condemned Iran’s security approach toward various segments of the population in Iran, including workers and women. The U.S. State Department said some time ago in a statement that the Islamic Republic regime could have paid workers’ wages in Iran with the expenses it has incurred in Syria.

Source: Voice of America