Amnesty International Protests Heavy Sentences Against Labor Activists
Amnesty International described prison and lashing sentences for seven activists as “the latest brutal example of Iran’s tyrannical judicial system.” The international human rights organization says “this shameful injustice must be stopped.”
Amnesty International issued a statement in response to the heavy sentences handed down by Branch 28 of Tehran’s Revolutionary Court against seven labor activists involved in the case of protests at the Haftape complex in Khuzestan.
Philip Luther, director of research and advocacy for Amnesty International Middle East and North Africa, said: “These cruel sentences represent the latest example of Iran’s tyrannical judicial system and openly demonstrate the complete disregard of this country’s authorities for the rights of journalists and workers.”
On Saturday, September 7, 2019, Tehran’s Revolutionary Court handed down sentences totaling 111 years imprisonment and 74 lashes against seven defendants in the Haftape protest case. According to these sentences: Ismail Bakhshi received 14 years imprisonment and 74 lashes; Mohammad Khonifer received six years imprisonment; Sepideh Qolian, Amir Amirqoli, Amirhossein Mohammadi Fard, Sanaz Elahi, and Asal Mohammadi each received 18 years imprisonment.
Amnesty International believes the convicted individuals were targeted and punished solely for their activities in defense of workers’ rights and for publicizing human rights violations. Philip Luther said: “This shameful injustice must be stopped. We urge Iranian authorities to quash these unjust sentences and cruel convictions and immediately and unconditionally release these seven individuals.”
Amnesty International continued in its statement: “Part of the international community, including European Union member states that maintain direct contact with the Iranian government, must intensify their efforts to tell Iranian authorities that this country must immediately stop prosecuting journalists and human rights activists and put an end to its increasingly brutal campaign to eliminate the remnants of civil society remaining in Iran.”
The Revolutionary Court’s sentences against these activists were so severe that they provoked widespread negative reaction from Iranians, prompting Ibrahim Raisi, the head of the judiciary, to order that “the verdicts issued by one of the branches of the Revolutionary Court in some recent cases” be subject to “swift review and fair reconsideration” under the supervision of Tehran’s chief judge.
The judiciary spokesman also clarified Raisi’s order, saying: “The head of the judiciary emphasizes listening to the voice of workers and believes that instead of harsh judicial and security measures, the wound should be healed and workers’ and livelihood problems should be addressed, so that even if some wish to exploit this environment for their tainted purposes, they would have no opportunity to do so.”
Over the past two days, dozens of political activists with various orientations have reacted to the prison and lashing sentences imposed on labor and civil society activists.
In one of these statements, signed by many prominent political activists within Iran, it was stated that “fair legal and judicial standards were not observed in issuing these sentences.” According to the authors of this statement: “Public trial, the right to freely choose one’s own lawyer, continuous and unobstructed access to legal counsel and preparation of defense, refraining from pressuring defendants and their families, and fairness and precision in rendering judgment are minimum standards that must be respected for a fair trial.”
Source: DW
