Arrest of 79 members of a tourism group; condemnation of arrest and threats against labor activists

According to news published on Iranian social media and media outlets, in recent days, 79 members of a tourism group were arrested on charges of "promoting new false mysticisms," two Pakistani fuel tankers were killed by IRGC forces at the border's zero point, and the Haft Tappeh Sugarcane Workers' Union condemned the arrest and threats against labor activists.

• 79 members of a tourist group arrested

According to ISNA news agency, Azizollah Maleki, the police commander of Gilan, announced the arrest of 79 members of a tourism group in Gilan province, saying that these individuals were promoting "newly emerging false mysticisms" through "fraud, receiving money, and organizing unauthorized tourism tours" in cyberspace.

The Islamic Republic has a long history of suppressing religious and ideological minorities, including followers of emerging mysticism. A section of the US State Department's annual report, released on Wednesday, May 12, examines in detail the violations of the rights of religious minorities in Iran.

• Two Baloch fuel tankers killed by IRGC forces

On Sunday, September 11, the "Baloch Activists" campaign announced the killing of two Baloch nationals, Amir Mohammad Brahui and Habibullah Brahui, from Balochistan, Pakistan, by IRGC forces at the zero point of the Padgi border, writing that the two lost their lives on July 1 by direct fire from IRGC forces.

According to this human rights organization, relatives of the two tankers identified their bodies in the Zahedan forensic morgue after 20 days of lack of information and follow-up.

The Baloch Activists Campaign says that during the family's follow-up efforts, IRGC intelligence threatened them and asked them to refrain from following up on the situation.

• Haft Tappeh Sugarcane Workers' Union condemns arrest and threats against labor activists

In recent days, the Haft Tappeh Sugarcane Workers' Union issued a statement, referring to the continued and intensifying atmosphere of repression of social activists, including labor defenders, over the past two months, condemning the filing of cases, arrests, and threats against labor defenders and other social activists, and calling for the unconditional release of all those arrested.

Referring to the arrest of some activists, including Amir Abbas Azramvand, a journalist in the economic and labor field, the statement states that Ebrahim Raisi's government, relying on governmental and judicial power, is increasing pressure on social activists day by day, and any independent organization is being suppressed by security and police institutions.

Source: Voice of America