Iran: Conviction on appeal of 7 human rights defenders

New information
IRN 007 / 0919 / OBS 072.2
Sentencing /
Judicial harassment /
Torture
Iran
December 18, 2019

The Observatory for the Protection of Human Rights Defenders, a partnership of FIDH and the World Organisation Against Torture (OMCT), has received new information and requests your urgent intervention in the following situation in  Iran.

New information:

The Observatory has been informed by the League for the Defence of Human Rights in Iran (LDDHI) about the conviction on appeal of the following human rights defenders: Ms. Sepideh Gholian, a young labour rights activist; Mr. Esmail Bakhshi, Spokesperson of the independent Workers Syndicate of Haft Tappeh Sugar Cane Company; Mr. Mohammad Khanifar, another member of the Workers Syndicate of Haft Tappeh Sugar Cane Company; and Mr. Amirhossein Mohammadifard, Ms. Sanaz Alahyari, Mr. Amir Amirgholi, and Ms. Asal Mohammadi, four journalists of an online magazine called Gam [Step].

According to the information received, on December 14, 2019, the Court of Appeals of Teheran upheld the conviction of the seven human rights defenders on charges of “gathering and collusion against national security” (Article 610 of the Islamic Penal Code) and sentenced them to five years in prison each, in relation to union activities or reporting on such activities in the context of the strike by workers of the Haft Tappeh Sugar Cane Company [1] in Shush, Khuzestan Province, southwest Iran (see background information). All seven are still free but may be arrested at any time.

The court also upheld the conviction and two-year prison sentence against Mr. Esmail Bakhshi on charge of “insulting the Supreme Leader” (Article 514). Mr. Bakhshi will serve his sentences concurrently.

The Observatory expresses its concerns over the conviction and judicial harassment against Ms. Sepideh Gholian , Mr. Esmail Bakhshi, Mr. Amirhossein Mohammadifard, Ms. Sanaz Alahyari, Mr. Amir Amirgholi, Ms. Asal Mohammadi, and Mr. Mohammad Khanifar, which seem to be aimed only at punishing them for their legitimate defence of workers’ rights. The Observatory calls on the Iranian authorities to immediately and unconditionally put an end to any acts of harassment against them , as well as all other human rights defenders in Iran.

Background information:

In November 2018, workers at the Haft Tappeh Sugar Cane Company, located in Shush, Khuzestan Province, began a month-long strike. They were demanding the payment of months of unpaid wages and the return of the agro-industrial complex’s ownership to the public sector. Haft Tappeh is the largest sugarcane factory in Iran and employs thousands of workers.

On November 18, 2018, Mr. Esmail Bakhshi, Ms. Sepideh Gholian and Mr. Mr. Mohammad Khanifar, three labour rights activists, were arrested. Mr. Bakhshi and Ms. Gholian were released on bail on December 12 and 18, 2018, respectively. They were forced to incriminate themselves under torture and their “confessions” were televised. After being released, they revealed that they had been tortured and forced to confess. They were re-arrested in Ahvaz, Khuzestan Province, on January 20, 2019. Ms. Gholian was detained in Sepidar prison until April 28, 2019, before being transferred to Evin prison until June 3, 2019, when she was transferred to Qarchak prison. Mr. Bakhshi was detained in Shayban prison in Ahvaz, until April 28, 2019, and then transferred to Evin prison.Mr. Mohammad Khanifar was released on bail on November 22, 2018.

Four online journalists who reported on social justice issues, including labour rights, and publicised the grievances of the workers of Haft Tappeh Sugar Cane Company, were also arrested: 
 Ms. Asal Mohammadi was arrested on December 4, 2018, released on bail on January 5, 2019, re-arrested on August 4, 2019 and released on bail on November 2, 2019. 
 Mr. Amirhossein Mohammadifard and Ms. Sanaz Alahyari were both arrested on January 9, 2019, and detained in the Ministry of Intelligence’s Ward 209 in Tehran’s Evin prison. 
 Mr. Amir Amirgholi was arrested at his home in Babolsar, Mazandaran Province, on January 14, 2019, and was initially detained in Evin prison. He was transferred to Shayban prison in Ahvaz after one month and then back to Evin prison on April 28, 2019.

https://www.fidh.org/en/issues/human-rights-
defenders/iran-conviction-on-appeal-of-7-
human-rights-defenders