Additional 13-Month Prison Sentence Issued for Jafar Azimzadeh, Imprisoned Labor Activist in Iran

Jafar Azimzadeh, an imprisoned labor activist serving his sentence in Evin Prison, has been sentenced to additional imprisonment by the Revolutionary Court.

Akram Rahimpour, the wife of Jafar Azimzadeh and member of the executive board of the Free Union of Iranian Workers and an imprisoned labor activist, confirmed the news on Monday, June 9, on her Instagram, stating that a 13-month prison sentence was issued on Sunday, June 8, by Branch 26 of Tehran’s Revolutionary Court, presided over by Iman Afshari, against this labor activist on the charge of “propaganda against the Islamic Republic system through media activity inside the prison.”

Ms. Rahimpour attributed the issuance of this sentence to this labor activist’s written and verbal protests against the termination of medical insurance for political and non-political prisoners in 2019, and protests against the issuance of heavy sentences against Haft Tappeh workers and workers who participated in World Labor Day ceremonies in front of Parliament.

According to published information, Jafar Azimzadeh’s court session was held on Tuesday, June 3, despite the labor activist’s announcement of withdrawing from attendance at the trial proceedings, and after his forced transfer to the Revolutionary Court.

According to the imprisoned labor activist’s wife, Mr. Azimzadeh, in response to questions from the secretary of the judge of Branch 26 of the Revolutionary Court regarding his request for appeal of the issued verdict, stated: “Tell Judge Afshar that I will soon present my objections to public opinion and in a courtroom as vast as Iran with the participation of an eighty million-strong jury.”

This sentence was issued for this labor activist at a time when Branch 2 of the Public and Revolutionary Prosecutor’s Office of District 33 has recently opened a legal case against his wife, Akram Rahimpour, on the charge of “propaganda against the system.”

The Free Union of Iranian Workers also issued a statement on Tuesday, June 20, through its Telegram channel, strongly protesting the issuance of the new 13-month prison sentence against Jafar Azimzadeh, stating: “This union is aware of the sinister and inhumane policy of security apparatus to destroy independent organizations, including the Free Union, and the suppression and imprisonment of genuine labor movement activists, and while protesting this issued sentence, demands the immediate release of Jafar Azimzadeh, Haidar Ghorbani, and also the cessation of legal prosecution of Akram Rahimpour, Nahid Khoda-jou, Shapour Ehsani Rad, Nasrin Javadi, and other labor and social activists.”

The statement further stated: “It is obvious that if this unjust procedure against members of the Free Union of Iranian Workers continues, we will protest in whatever way is necessary and to an even greater extent.”

Jafar Azimzadeh, member of the executive board of the Free Union of Iranian Workers, who was temporarily released from prison in July 2016 following a hunger strike with a promise from judicial authorities to retry his case and grant renewable leave, was arrested on February 29, 2018, by security forces in the Pardis area of Karaj, and was transferred to Ward 9, Section 8 of Evin Prison to serve his previously issued 6-year sentence by Tehran’s Revolutionary Court on the charges of “assembly and conspiracy with intent to act against national security,” “disruption of public order,” and “propaganda activity against the system,” and currently continues to serve his sentence in this prison.

The U.S. State Department has repeatedly condemned violent crackdowns and widespread suppression of protesters in various instances, as well as repeated and continuous violations of the rights of Iranian citizens by the ruling regime.

Source: Voice of America