Sources Report Torture of Ismail Bakhshi, Haft Tappeh Workers’ Representative in Prison

Some reports suggest that Ismail Bakhshi, a representative of workers at Haft Tappeh sugar company who has been detained, was subjected to beatings in prison.

The “International Union in Support of Iranian Workers” reported that Ismail Bakhshi, after his arrest by security forces, was subjected to “severe beatings and torture,” to the extent that “his face became bruised and swollen.”

The organization stated that Ismail Bakhshi, following “severe beatings” by officials, suffered stomach bleeding and was subsequently hospitalized.

Hours after the release of this report, the chief judge of Shush court denied the beatings of Mr. Bakhshi in an interview with Iran’s Judiciary News Agency.

The judicial official, in part of his remarks about Bakhshi, called him “one of the accused in illegal gatherings in Shush county.”

Ismail Bakhshi was arrested on Sunday, November 18, along with at least 20 others—including members of the Haft Tappeh sugar company workers’ representatives assembly, several labor activists, a civil rights activist, and a number of company employees and managers—who had gathered at the security police to follow up on the status of detainees.

The arrested individuals were released from prison after some time on bail or guarantee, but the detention of Ismail Bakhshi and Sepideh Qolian—a civil rights activist—has continued.

At that time, it was announced that Ismail Bakhshi would also be released with the other workers, but shortly afterward, some media outlets reported that he was not released due to the opposition of the Shush city intelligence office.

Previously, Bakhshi’s lawyer and a representative of Iran’s Labor Ministry had reported that the accusations against this labor activist are “security-related” and for this reason he will remain in detention until further notice.

This week, Sepideh Qolian, after six days of detention in connection with protests by Haft Tappeh sugar company workers, said in a phone call with her family that it is likely a one-month detention order will be issued for her.

Source: Voice of America