The report states that Mr. Bakhtiari was arrested by security forces during the 2022 nationwide protests and was released on bail shortly after.
According to the ruling issued by the Revolutionary Court of Bushehr and recently communicated to Mr. Omrani, he has been sentenced to one year in prison on the charge of “propaganda against the regime.” Several posts on social media have been cited as evidence for the charges against him.
The court session for these charges was held on July 2 of this year. A previous court session for Omrani’s charges was held, but the case was sent back to the prosecutor’s office due to deficiencies.
A source close to Mr. Omrani told HRANA that he is facing another legal case. In October of last year, Omrani, along with three other members of the Board of Directors of the Bushehr Teachers’ Trade Association, was sentenced to two years of discretionary imprisonment, confiscation of seized assets in favor of the government, and a three-year ban on teaching activities in academic environments. This case has been sent to Branch 3 of the Bushehr Province Court of Appeals, with a hearing date set for August.
Additionally, Mr. Omrani, along with two other union activists, was sentenced by the Bushehr Province Criminal Court to a fine for “participating in teachers’ union protests.” Later, these citizens were acquitted of the charges by the province’s Court of Appeals.
Mohsen Omrani, a member of the Board of Directors of the Bushehr Teachers’ Trade Association, has a history of arrest and conviction due to his activities.
Based on the ruling issued on June 29 by Branch 37 of the Isfahan Court of Appeal, and communicated to these union activists, Mr. Toubaeiha was sentenced to two years in prison for “insulting the Supreme Leader,” one year for “propaganda against the regime,” one year for “disrupting public order by participating in illegal gatherings,” and two years and a fine of fifteen million tomans for “spreading falsehoods.” Additionally, he was sentenced to two years in exile in a village in Nahbandan, South Khorasan province.
Mr. Ashrafi was sentenced to one year in prison for “disrupting public order by participating in illegal gatherings,” with the sentence suspended for four years.
The arrest warrant for these union activists was issued in January 2024 by the Second Branch of the Najafabad General Prosecutor’s Office.
Iraj Toubaeiha (Najafabadi), a member of the Najafabad Teachers’ Union, was detained for 35 days in the fall of 2022, for 5 days in the spring of 2023, and for 13 days in the fall of 2023. He had previously been arrested and faced judicial actions due to his activities.
According to a verdict recently issued by branch 2 of the Revolutionary Court of Shahriar and delivered to these workers’ rights advocates on June 22, they were each sentenced to two years in prison for “forming a group under the title of a labor union with the intent to disrupt national security.” The court session to address these charges was held on May 26th of the previous year in the aforementioned branch.
Iran-Nejad, Amirloo, and Seydi, along with several other labor activists, were arrested by security forces on April 15, 2022. Amirloo and Seydi were released on bail on May 2 and May 9 of the same year, respectively, and Iran-Nejad was released after about a month.
Mohammad Iran-Nejad was sent to Evin Prison on June 26, 2022, to serve his sentence of two years and nine months for another case. Following the fire incident in Evil Prison on October 15, 2022, he and several other prisoners were transferred to Rajai Shahr Prison. He was released from this prison in February-March 2024.
During this period, at least 15 Kolbars in the border areas of Kermanshah, Kurdistan, and West Azerbaijan provinces, and 9 Sukhtbars in the southeastern border areas of the country, lost their lives. Additionally, 141 Kolbars and 11 Sukhtbars were injured. Indiscriminate military shootings were the leading cause, followed by incidents such as falls from heights, frostbite, and cardiac arrest.
In comparison, the casualty figures from the previous two months totaled 93 (10 dead and 83 injured). This indicates a 90% increase in casualties and injuries among border workers (both Kolbars and Sukhtbars) in the recent two months.
Military shootings caused the deaths of 9 Kolbars and injuries to 115. Additional Kolbar fatalities occurred due to falls from heights (3 deaths), frostbite (2 deaths), and cardiac arrest (1 death). Of the injuries, 17 resulted from falls, 4 from military personnel assaults, and 4 from landmine explosions in the border areas.
In Sistan and Baluchestan province, 9 Baluchi Sukhtbars died from direct gunshot wounds or vehicle overturns due to military shootings. An additional 11 Sukhtbars were injured in similar incidents.
All reported incidents in Kermanshah province occurred in the border areas of Nowsud county, resulting in 98 injured Kolbars and 3 deaths. In Kurdistan province, the border areas of Baneh reported the most Kolbar casualties, with 3 deaths and 22 injuries.
Between March 23 and March 28, 2024, at least 7 Kolbars died, with 5 deaths attributed to military shootings and falls from heights.
On February 24, 2024, military personnel targeted dozens of Kolbars with gunfire at the border. Investigations show that on this day, at least 45 Kolbars were injured by military gunfire.
These figures are collected by HRANA and may underreport the true scope of casualties, as data is likely lacking in some areas.
Kolbars, primarily Kurdish citizens residing in impoverished regions, face numerous hazards while carrying heavy loads over long, difficult paths, in addition to facing military forces on both sides of the border. Indiscriminate shootings by border guards remain a significant cause of death and injury among Kolbars.
Meanwhile, in Sistan and Baluchestan province, lack of sufficient income forces many to engage in high-risk fuel carrying, known as Sukhtbari, for family livelihood. This dangerous occupation involves transporting fuel across borders and exposes workers to threats such as military attacks and natural disasters.
In addition to material damages, the killing of pack animals and incidents such as frostbite and avalanches also lurk for cross-border workers.
HRANA’s report on human rights violations in Iran during the 1402 Hijri year provides statistics on citizens killed or injured by Iran’s military forces.
The International Labour Organization (ILO) established April 28 as World Day for Safety and Health at Work in 2003 to raise awareness about occupational safety and health. The day aims to emphasize the prevention of workplace accidents and diseases, promoting the importance of improving workplace safety to reduce work-related deaths. In this regard, governments are required to develop a systematic policy and program for the inspection and enforcement of safety and health laws and policies. It is also worth mentioning that since 1996, this day has been observed globally by trade unions as a day to honor workers who have been killed or injured.
Iran ranks 102nd globally in terms of observing work safety issues, which is a significantly low ranking. According to the report, work accidents caused by a lack of safety in the workplace resulted in 1,680 deaths and 8,199 injuries over the past year. These incidents were reported by media outlets and organizations monitoring the situation.
The report provides a breakdown of the types of accidents:
. 23.87% were due to falls from height
. 19.71% were caused by fires
. 9.58% were related to construction accidents
. 7.59% involved impacts from hard objects
. 7.59% occurred in factories
. 6.69% were linked to well accidents
. 6.51% involved electrocutions
. 4.70% were related to vehicle accidents
. 4.16% occurred in mines
. 3.80% were due to gas poisoning
. 2.53% happened in petrochemical plants and refineries
. 1.08% were due to drownings
. 0.90% were related to agricultural accidents
. 0.90% were caused by poisonings
. 0.18% were due to heat strokes
. 0.18% were caused by frostbites
The findings underscore the need for stricter safety measures and regulations to protect workers across various sectors in Iran.
Additionally, in a separate legal case, the Firuzabad Criminal Court sentenced him to pay a fine as an alternative to a six-month prison term. Amirzadegan, known for his involvement in union activities, has faced prior arrests and convictions.
He has previously encountered prior arrests and convictions due to his involvement in union activities.
In 2023, the Department of Statistics of Human Rights Activists in Iran documented 1,700 reports related to the rights of trade unions and associations. This included 53 individuals who received sentences totaling 1,230 months of imprisonment.
The convicted teachers are Anoosh Adeli, Mahmood Sedighipour, Aziz Ghasemzadeh, Teymoor Bagheri Koodakani, Tahmasb Sohrabi, Gholamreza Akbarzadeh Baghian, Ali Nahali, Mohammad-Javad Saeedi, Jahanbakhsh Lajevardi, and Yadollah Baharestani. In addition to the prison terms, they have been barred from joining political/civil groups for two years.
The court session addressed charges related to “disturbing public order through participating in and holding protest union gatherings and defying police officers.” Sedighipour and Ghasemzadeh were imprisoned and did not attend the court.
Among them, Adeli, Sedighipour, and Ghasemzadeh had previously received a one-year prison term, which was upheld on appeal. They are currently serving their sentences in Lakan Prison, Rasht.
In 2023, the Department of Statistics of Human Rights Activists in Iran documented 1,700 reports related to the rights of trade unions and associations. This included 53 individuals who received sentences totaling 1,230 months of imprisonment.
The arrest allegedly took place within the premises of Isfahan Oil Refinery, yet the reasons behind his detention and his current location remain undisclosed.
Zamani, known for his advocacy of workers’ rights, is also employed as a welding worker.
As HRA’s annual report reveals, in 2023, 64 workers’ rights advocates were arrested by security forces in Iran. Additionally, 29 labor activists or defenders of workers’ rights were sentenced to 654 months of imprisonment, which includes 568 months of actual imprisonment and 86 months of suspended imprisonment. These alarming statistics underscore the challenging environment faced by those advocating for labor rights in the country.
Fars news agency reports that the Iranian Cyber Police in South Khorasan Province have identified 27 social media channels, leading to the arrest of 12 citizens for disseminating what authorities label as “misinformation and insulting content.” Additionally, a business unit has been closed in connection with these activities.
According to a police official, these 27 websites allegedly published “fake news and insulting content against the martyrs who lost their lives during the terrorist attack in Kerman.” The 12 individuals arrested in relation to this matter will face legal action. The identities of the detainees and the location of their detention remain undisclosed.
Following the tragic explosions in Kerman during the commemoration ceremony for Qasem Soleimani, which claimed numerous lives and caused injuries, security forces and affiliated individuals on social media have been actively pursuing those expressing opinions about the incident. Consequently, dozens of individuals have been summoned, arrested, and had their social media pages removed.
