Labor Activist Transferred to Prison After Execution of 74 Lashes Sentence
Rasoul Talebmoghaddam, a member of the Syndicate of Workers of Tehran and Suburbs United Bus Company, was first whipped in the Evin Court on Monday and then transferred to prison to serve his two-year sentence. Another imprisoned labor activist refused to appear at a court hearing.
According to a report published on Monday, June 1st on the Telegram page of the Syndicate of Workers of Tehran and Suburbs United Bus Company, Rasoul Talebmoghaddam, who was summoned by phone to Branch One of the Sentence Enforcement Division located in Evin Court, was arrested upon arrival at the location.
He had previously been sentenced by Branch 26 of the Revolutionary Court to two years imprisonment, 74 lashes, two years exile, and two years deprivation of membership in organizations, parties and groups, and use of mobile phones.
Talebmoghaddam was among those arrested on International Workers’ Day (May 1st) this year. The Syndicate of Workers of United Bus Company wrote: “Upon arrival at the sentence enforcement division, he was arrested and the sentence of 74 lashes was carried out on the body of this retired hardworking worker of the Syndicate of Workers of Tehran and Suburbs United Bus Company by the sentence enforcement official, and he was transferred to the quarantine section of Evin Prison in very poor physical condition.”
In a report published by this syndicate, it states that the whipping caused wounds and swelling on Talebmoghaddam’s back and he “should be treated as soon as possible” at medical centers outside the prison.
The Syndicate of Workers of United Bus Company, while referring to “the spread of coronavirus epidemic in prisons,” warned judicial authorities and prison officials about the consequences of wounding and imprisoning this labor activist.
The syndicate stated that Talebmoghaddam “has been active in the syndicate for years to uphold the rights of his colleagues and has been threatened many times by the management of United Company, security officials and security forces.”
Refusal to Appear at Court Hearing
On Sunday, the “Free Union of Iranian Workers” website published a report about the judicial authorities’ treatment of Jafar Azimzadeh.
According to this report, he was supposed to be transferred from Evin Prison to Branch 26 of the Revolutionary Court for a hearing, but he refused to appear at the court hearing.
In the statement of withdrawal by this labor activist, it states: “Given that I have presented the necessary defense in the second interrogation branch of Evin District 33, I declare my withdrawal from participation in the court of Branch 26 of the Revolutionary Court and await the issuance of a verdict.”
He warned that if this court issues an “unjust” verdict against him, he will appeal to “the court of public conscience” and present his defense “before a jury of eighty million.”
The Free Union of Workers wrote: “Jafar Azimzadeh is currently being held in prison in a completely illegal manner in accordance with the circular on early release of prisoners dated March 18, 2020.”
Furthermore, in the continuation of this union’s report, it was emphasized that security agencies and the judicial authority, in an “unprecedented move,” have formed a file against Azimzadeh within 20 days, have taken his final defense statements in the second interrogation branch, and are determined to “legalize his continued illegal imprisonment by issuing a new arbitrary verdict.”
The Free Union of Iranian Workers emphasized that if Jafar Azimzadeh is not released immediately and unconditionally, “we will expose and protest this will of the repressive security and judicial agencies against Jafar Azimzadeh through every possible means, both in the eyes of public opinion and at the international level.”
Confirmation of Prison Sentence for a “Political and Civil Activist”
According to Hrana news agency, the conviction verdict of Shahab al-Din Nazari has been confirmed by the Appeals Court of Tehran Province.
Hrana recalled that “this political and civil activist was sentenced to one year in prison following a complaint by the Sepah Intelligence Organization” in the Tehran Revolutionary Court headed by Judge Moghisseh.
According to this human rights news website, Nazari’s charge was “propaganda activity against the system,” “but legal party activities and interviews with domestic media and expressing critical opinions in cyberspace about corruption and inefficiency of some officials in Khuzestan Province and other social and national issues are the only instances of the charges brought against Shahab al-Din Nazari in this case, which was formed two years ago following a complaint by the Khuzestan Sepah Intelligence Organization.”
Source: DW
