Jafar Azimzadeh, a labor activist imprisoned in Iran, was sentenced to another 13 months in prison.

Jafar Azimzadeh, a imprisoned labor activist serving his sentence in Evin Prison, was once again sentenced to prison by the Revolutionary Court.

Akram Rahimpour, the wife of Jafar Azimzadeh, the secretary of the board of the Free Workers Union of Iran and a imprisoned labor activist, confirmed the news on her Instagram on Monday, June 9, and announced that the 13-month prison sentence on charges of "propaganda against the Islamic Republic through media activity inside prison" was served on this labor activist on Sunday, June 8, by Branch 26 of the Tehran Revolutionary Court, headed by Iman Afshari.

Ms. Rahimpour cited the reason for issuing this sentence as the labor activist's written and verbal protest against the suspension of medical insurance for political and non-political prisoners in 2019 and the issuance of heavy sentences against Haft Tappeh workers and workers participating in the International Workers' Day ceremony in front of the parliament.

According to published information, Jafar Azimzadeh's court hearing was held on Tuesday, June 4, despite the labor activist's announcement that he would not attend the hearing and after his forced transfer to the Revolutionary Court.

According to the wife of this imprisoned labor activist, Mr. Azimzadeh, in response to a question from the clerk of the judge of Branch 26 of the Revolutionary Court regarding the request to appeal the verdict, stated, "Tell Judge Afshar that I will soon present my protest to public opinion and in a court the size of Iran and with the participation of a jury of eighty million people."

This sentence was issued to this labor activist at a time when Branch 2 of the Investigation Department of the 33rd District Public and Revolutionary Prosecutor's Office recently opened a legal case against his wife, Akram Rahimpour, on charges of "propaganda against the system."

The Free Union of Iranian Workers also issued a statement on its Telegram channel on Tuesday, June 10, strongly protesting the issuance of a new 13-month prison sentence against Jafar Azimzadeh, stating: "This union is aware of the sinister and inhumane policy of the security apparatus to destroy independent organizations, including the Free Union, and to suppress and imprison real activists of the labor movement. In addition to protesting this issued sentence, it demands the immediate release of Jafar Azimzadeh, Heydar Ghorbani, and the cessation of the legal prosecution of Akram Rahimpour, Nahid Khodajoo, Shapour Ehsani Rad, Nasrin Javadi, and other union and social activists."

The statement also states: "It is obvious that if this unjust practice against members of the Free Union of Iranian Workers continues, we will protest in any appropriate way and more than before."

Jafar Azimzadeh, the secretary of the board of the Free Workers Union of Iran, who was temporarily released from prison in July 2016 following a hunger strike with the promise of judicial authorities to reinstate the trial and grant him an extendable leave, was arrested on February 29, 2018 by security forces in the Pardis area of ​​Karaj and transferred to the 8th Ward, Hall 9, of Evin Prison to serve his 6-year prison sentence, which had previously been issued to him by the Tehran Revolutionary Court on charges of "gathering and colluding with the intention of acting against the security of the country," "disturbing public order," and "propaganda activity against the system." He is currently serving his sentence in this prison.

The US State Department has repeatedly and on various occasions condemned the violent confrontations and widespread repression of protesters, as well as the repeated and persistent violations of the rights of Iranian citizens by the ruling regime in that country.

Source: Voice of America