Prison sentences continue for labor activists; a member of the Haft Tapeh workers' union was sentenced to five years in prison

Ali Nejati, a member of the Haft Tapeh Workers' Union and retired worker, was sentenced to five years in prison by the Tehran Revolutionary Court.

Farzaneh Zeilabi, a lawyer for the Haft Tappeh workers, confirmed the news in a conversation with social media on Thursday, December 11, saying that this member of the Haft Tappeh workers' union has been sentenced to five years in prison by Branch 28 of the Tehran Revolutionary Court, presided over by Judge Moghiseh, on charges of "gathering and colluding to act against national security through propaganda activities against the regime."

He said that Ali Nejati, along with Esmaeil Bakhshi, Mohammad Khanifar, and some other individuals, were summoned to court on August 3, but it is unclear why his trial was held separately, while the nature of the charge against all of these individuals was "gathering and colluding against national security."

The Haft Tappeh Sugarcane Workers' Union, while condemning the sentence issued to this retired worker, has also stated that "issuing such anti-worker sentences cannot intimidate workers in continuing their struggle against oppression and exploitation. As long as oppression and exploitation exist, the workers' class struggle will continue."

Previously, the Voice of America had announced in a news release that Mr. Nejati was tried in Tehran's Revolutionary Court on Sunday, November 9.

Ali Nejati, a member of the board of directors of the Haft Tappeh Workers' Union, was arrested at his home on November 29 last year on charges of interfering in the strikes of Haft Tappeh sugarcane workers. After some time, on February 29 of the same year, he was released from prison on medical leave due to a heart and respiratory condition.

Source: Voice of America