Iran Reports

Breaking news: Jailed Iranian labour activist, Reza Shahabi, temporarily halts his 50-day hunger strike

Free Reza ShahabiThe Syndicate of Workers of Tehran and Suburbs Bus Company has issued two statements within the last 24 hours. First one in the evening of September 26th informing that they have urged Reza Shahabi to end his hunger strike following promises made by a senior intelligence official that they would address Reza’s concerns and demands promptly. The second statement was issued a few minutes ago, in the evening of September 27, 2917, informing the public that Reza Shahabi has agreed to temporary end his 50-day hunger strike. Since yesterday, many labour organizations in Iran and internationally have been urging Reza Shahabi to end his hunger strike due to serious health repercussions. Reza’s health had seriously been deteriorated and he could not even recognize his family members easily during the visit yesterday.

Reza Shahabi’s hunger strike has been halted as of 9:00 pm, September 27, 2017, but his demands to be freed immediately and unconditionally have not yet been met. Given the lack of credibility of the Iranian government’s authorities especially the judiciary and intelligence forces, it is absolutely crucial to continue pressuring the government to release Reza Shahabi. Reza must be immediately and unconditionally freed and taken to a civil hospital with full facility for proper specialized treatment.

Please see below/attached the two recent statements by the Vahed Syndicate. IASWI wholeheartedly thanks all labour and human rights organizations, Amnesty International and thousands of other concerned organizations and individuals who have been campaigning one way or another for the freedom of Reza Shahabi, who is one of the great assets of the Iranian labour movement in the contemporary period. Please continue to support the campaign for the freedom of Reza Shahabi and all other imprisoned labour activists in Iran.

In Solidarity,

International Alliance in Support of Workers in Iran (IASWI)

September 27, 2017 

[email protected]

www.workers-iran.org;

https://twitter.com/IASWIinfo

 

  

Reza Shahabi halts his hunger strike conditionally
Reza Shahabi, the hard-working driver of Tehran Bus Company who was forced to go on a hunger strike on August 9, 2017, in order to bring his cry for justice to the public and the relevant authorities, especially related to the gross violation of his human rights by the prosecutor’s office and the intelligence forces, given that a senior intelligence official In the presence of his family pledged to address his demands as soon as possible, and in order to ease the concerns of his family, colleagues, the Vahed Syndicate and other Iranian and international trade unions and labour organizations, workers’ activists, teachers, retirees, students and concerned individuals around the world, he announced that as of 9:00 pm, September 27, 2017 (Mehr 5, 1396), he will stop his hunger strike conditionally.   

 

Despite the fact that the physical condition of this jailed worker is very grave, and according to his family’s observations he is urgently in need of medical treatment and admission to a hospital outside the prison, he nevertheless has asserted that that he would resume his hunger if his call for justice were not dealt with within a reasonable timeframe.

The Syndicate of Workers of Tehran and Suburbs Bus Company fully supports the demands of Mr. Reza Shahabi, a member of the syndicate’s board of directors, who has been on hunger strike for 50 days and endangering his life.

The Syndicate of Workers of Tehran and Suburbs Bus Company greatly appreciates the support and solidarity of trade unions and Iranian and international labour organizations, students, retirees, teachers, and friends of the Syndicate and Reza Shahabi, during his hunger strike, and urges everyone to continue demanding his immediate and unconditional freedom to save his life.

 Syndicate of Workers of Tehran and Suburbs Bus Company 

Mehr 5, 1396 (September 27, 2017) 

 Email: [email protected] 

Website: www.vahedsyndica.com 

Telegram: @vahedsyndica 

 

 Reza Shahabi was returned to the prison after being examined at the hospital 

 Tehran bus workers’ syndicate urges Reza Shahabi to end his hunger strike 


Reza Shahabi, a hardworking bus driver and trade union activist, on the forty-ninth day of his hunger strike (since August 9, 2017), was transferred to the Madani Hospital in Karaj for one hour due to the deterioration of his health conditions today, September 26, 2017. Despite the repeated order of the physician for his admission to the hospital, he was transferred back to the Rajaee Shahr prison.

Reza Shahabi’s family saw him for a few minutes, and according to his wife, Reza could not clearly identify her and children. 

 The Syndicate of Workers of Tehran and Suburbs Bus Company has been campaigning for an immediate and unconditional release of Reza Shahabi, and the implementation of all his rightful demands. We strongly condemn the inhumane actions and the violation of the basic rights of this hardworking, oppressed defender of workers’ rights. Reza has been forced to resort to hunger strike in order to defend his rights while knowing that this would endanger his life and affect his family. His health and wellbeing are now seriously endangered and we are extremely concerned about his life. We urge our dear colleague Reza Shahabi to end his hunger strike as soon as possible. Reza’s wife and children and all his colleagues and friends are extremely distressed and worried about him. 



 The Intelligence authorities have made promises to Reza in front of his family that they would without delay address his demands.  Now that the Intelligence authorities have made such promises, it is crucial to ensure that they would deliver these promises immediately. We hope Reza would end his hunger strike before it’s too late. In the meantime, we will continue to take all necessary measures to support him and achieve his freedom. 

 The Syndicate of Workers of Tehran and Suburbs Bus Company has been campaigning non-stop since Reza’s re-incarceration on August 9, 2017. Thousands of workers in Iran have signed petitions demanding his freedom. We organized a protest rally on September 25, 2017 outside the Ministry of Labour demanding Reza’s freedom. Prior to that we organized a rally and march outside the Iranian parliament on September 5, 2017 despite heavy police presence and brutality. We have also organized a job action on September 13, 2017, during which Tehran bus drivers turned their lights on during the day and reduced their speed to a maximum of 20 Km/Hour. Iranian social media has been overwhelmingly influenced by the campaign for Reza Shahabi’s freedom. Reza Shahabi’s home has become a place for hundreds of working people and students and teachers who are showing up to support him and his family. In addition, we are greatly thankful for all the support and solidarity from our colleagues around the world who have been strongly condemning continued persecution of Reza Shahabi and other labour activists in Iran. We urge all our friends and colleagues to continue campaigning for Reza Shahabi’s freedom. With your continued support and solidarity we will hopefully be able to secure Reza’s freedom. 

 Our Email: [email protected] 

Our Website: www.vahedsyndica.com 

Our Telegram: @vahedsyndica 

 Syndicate of Workers of Tehran and Suburbs Bus Company 

Mehr 4, 1396 (September 26, 2017) 

 

 

 

Links: http://vahedsyndica.com/archive/2943 

 

http://vahedsyndica.com/archive/2949  

 

 

 

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