Hassan Saeedi, one of the International Workers’ Day’s arrestees (May Day 2019 in Tehran) was summoned to Evin prison by Branch One of Evin Prosecution Office. In addition to a 5-year prison term, he was also sentenced to two years of prohibition in any social and union activities. Saeedi is an active member of the Syndicate of Workers of Tehran and Suburbs Bus Company. He has been a staunch defender of workers’ rights since the relaunch of our syndicate in 2004 despite being continuously harassed and repeatedly fired and detained.
Saeedi’s imprisonment sentence is in direct contrast to propaganda by the Iranian state officials that after the bloody repression of the nationwide protest in November 2019 claimed that they would recognize the right to peaceful protests and gatherings. His unjust imprisonment also violates ILO Conventions 87 and 98 which guarantee freedom of association, the right to organize and trade union activity for workers.
Mr. Seyed Rasoul Taleb Moghaddam, another member of Tehran bus workers’ syndicate, who also was arrested on May Day rally in Tehran (May 1, 2019), has been sentenced to two years’ imprisonment, two years’ exile, 74 lashes and two years of ban on social and union activities.
The Syndicate of Workers of Tehran and Suburbs Bus Company strongly condemns the prison sentence against Hassan Saeedi and other labor activists, teachers and labour rights advocates and demands the overturn of all such convictions and sentences.
For more information, see the statement below:
Syndicate of Workers of Tehran and Suburbs Bus Company
We condemn the sentence of five years imprisonment for Hassan Saeedi, a member of Syndicate of Workers of Tehran and Suburbs Bus Company
Branch 36 of the Court of Appeal has upheld the ruling of the lower court against Hassan Saeedi, a member of Syndicate of Workers of Tehran and Suburbs Bus Company, without the court hearing, in the absence of Mr. Saeedi and his lawyer. Branch 26 of the Islamic Revolutionary Court had sentenced Saeedi to five years in prison and a two-year ban on the use of smart telecommunications such as a smart phones and a ban on membership in any political, social, and political parties and groups.Saeedi was arrested at the International Workers’ Day rally in Tehran (May 1, 2019) and released after a 33-day detention in the security ward 209 of Evin Prison on a bail on the amount of 330 million Tomans.Hassan Saeedi has been active in defending the rights of workers; however, he has been unjustly charged with gathering and colluding to disrupt state security and disrupt public order. He had previously been suspended and sacked numerous times and is currently terminated from the Tehran bus company due to his union activities.Syndicate of Workers of Tehran and Suburbs Bus Company strongly condemns the unjust and cruel ruling against Hassan Saeedi and calls for the withdrawal of the sentences against the member of our union and all other prosecuted and imprisoned workers, teachers and labour activists.
Syndicate of Workers of Tehran and Suburbs Bus Company
January 2020
Email: vsyndica@gmail.com
Website: www.vahedsyndica.com
Telegram: @vahedsyndica
