Harsh sentences in Haft Tappeh case | Ismail Bakhshi’s lawyer: We expected these sentences given the political agitation

As the issuance of harsh sentences for labor activists in the Haft Tappeh case has faced widespread protests, the defense lawyer of Ismail Bakhshi has also stated that given the political agitation, the issuance of such sentences was not unexpected for the case lawyers, workers, and labor activists.

The Telegram channel of the Haft Tappeh Workers’ Syndicate, on Sunday, September 17, citing Farzaneh Zilebi, lawyer of labor activist Ismail Bakhshi, in reference to the recent sentences issued in the “Haft Tappeh” case regarding harsh sentences for workers and labor activists of the Haft Tappeh case, wrote that given the political agitation and prejudgments by senior officials of the judiciary and some related media outlets, the issuance of harsh sentences for workers for the case lawyers, workers, and labor activists was “not unexpected.”

The text continues by stating that the officers’ report was prepared based on “conspiracy theory” and attributed all strikes and gatherings of truckers, teachers, merchants, students, workers, and others to foreigners, and from the very beginning, throughout the legal proceedings, the case was examined under the assumption that the client is “a criminal, not a defendant.”

Based on the text published in this Telegram channel, this lawyer has emphasized the lack of impartiality of security officials from the Ministry of Intelligence and officers, and stated that “regarding some of the charges attributed to Ismail Bakhshi, fundamentally, the Revolutionary Court did not have inherent jurisdiction to examine.”

According to Ms. Zilebi, “Judge Moghisseh, in fact, in an incomplete hearing, without holding a court session, suddenly and hastily issued a verdict for one of my clients and notified the defendants without the presence of lawyers, and has not yet been notified to the lawyers.”

The harsh sentences from the judiciary for labor activists and members of the editorial board of Gam, which were released informally yesterday and also confirmed by lawyer Sepideh Ghoolian, faced extensive criticism.

Workers at “Haft Tappeh Sugar Factory” last year, in protest of the non-payment of more than three months of overdue wages, went on strike, sit-in, and expressed their views through peaceful methods. However, the government’s response to these protests was suppression by state forces. Ismail Bakhshi, representative of Haft Tappeh Sugar Factory workers, and Sepideh Ghoolian, civil activist, are among those who were arrested and tortured in connection with these protests. After exposing their torture, they were arrested again.

The sentences issued in the Haft Tappeh case even prompted protests from several parliament members, and even one representative tweeted to Ebrahim Raisi stating that “the recent sentences show that Mr. Raisi’s approach is much harsher than his predecessors.”

Also, the Haft Tappeh Workers’ Syndicate, condemning these sentences in a statement, wrote: “Workers and laborers have not yet shown their anger, hatred, and contempt, have not yet firmly resolved to show that with their presence, they will shake the earth. A day will come when through unity and solidarity, we will scorch the earth beneath the feet of the wealthy and powerful and their defenders.”

Based on unofficial reports from labor sources, harsh prison sentences have been issued for these individuals and several workers and labor activists. 

Jamal Heydari-Manesh, Sepideh Ghoolian’s lawyer, announced on his Instagram page the issuance of verdicts for the defendants in the Haft Tappeh case by Branch 28 of the Revolutionary Court and wrote that “according to this unsupported verdict and without regard to the defenses presented in court,” Sepideh Ghoolian has been sentenced to a total of 18 years imprisonment.

According to this report, Amirhossein Mohammadi Far, editor-in-chief of Gam publication, Amir Amirgholi, member of the editorial board of Gam publication, Sanaz Elahibari, member of the editorial board of Gam publication, and Asal Mohammadi, student and member of the editorial board of Gam publication, have each been sentenced to 18 years of punitive imprisonment.

The United States has repeatedly condemned Iran’s security treatment of various segments of Iranian society, including workers and women. The U.S. State Department recently said in a statement that with the amount the Islamic Republic regime has spent in Syria, it could have paid the wages of workers in Iran.

Source: Voice of America