Nine labor rights activists sentenced to a total of 50 years in prison by the Court of Appeal
Sepideh Gholian, Esmaeil Bakhshi, Mohammad Khanifar, Amir Amirgholi, Amir Hossein Mohammadifard, Sanaz Allahyari, Asal Mohammadi, Atefeh Rangriz, and Marzieh Amiri have been sentenced to a total of 50 years in prison by the Court of Appeal.
Sepideh Gholian announced on her Instagram page that this labor activist, along with Mohammad Khanifer, Amir Amirgholi, Amir Hossein Mohammadifard, Sanaz Alhayari, and Asal Mohammadi, were each sentenced to five years in prison by Branch 36 of the Court of Appeals on charges such as "membership in anti-regime groups," "propaganda activity," and "spreading lies," and that Esmaeil Bakhshi was sentenced to 10 years in prison on charges of "insulting the leadership."
According to this labor activist, based on Article 134 of the Islamic Penal Code, which allows for the consolidating of sentences, only 5 years of Mr. Bakhshi's prison sentence will be enforceable.
According to him, Atefeh Rangriz and Marzieh Amiri, who were arrested on International Labor Day, were also sentenced to five years in prison by Branch 36 of the Court of Appeals, considering that their activities were also determined to be in line with the activities of the Haft Tappeh detainees, on charges of "assembly and collusion."
Ms. Qolyan, publishing this news on her Instagram page, called the "appeal" ruling an "approval" and wrote that the ruling is "the sweet taste of justice" for these workers' rights activists in a situation where the authorities had promised these activists a public trial in the presence of these individuals and their lawyers.
In the end, this labor activist, calling the temporary release of himself and other convicted activists a carnival, announced that, given the non-transparent process of handling the case in the Court of Appeal, he does not believe in any legitimacy for the sentences issued and that they will continue their protests in any way possible in the coming days.
Philip Luther, Amnesty International's West Asia and North Africa Research Director, emphasized in Amnesty International's latest report that the world must not remain silent in the face of continued widespread human rights violations by Iranian authorities to suppress dissent.
The US State Department has also repeatedly and on various occasions condemned the violent confrontations and widespread repression of protesters, as well as the repeated and persistent violations of the rights of Iranian citizens by the ruling regime in that country.
Source: Voice of America
