Appeals Court Upheld Heavy Prison Terms for Labor Activists in Tabriz

HRANA News Agency – The Appeals Court has upheld heavy prison sentences issued for four leftist labor activists from Tabriz, East Azerbaijan Province.

According to a report by Human Rights Activists News Agency (HRANA), the sixth branch of the Appeals Court in East Azerbaijan Province upheld the verdicts against Shahrokh Zamani, Nima Pouryaghob, Mohammad Jarahi and Sasan Vahebivash.

On August 18, 2011, the first branch of the Revolutionary Court in Tabriz sentenced Shahrokh Zamani to 11 years, Nima Pouryaghob to 6 years, Mohammad Jarahi to 5 years and Sasan Vahebivash to 6 months in prison.A fifth defender, Buick Sydler, was found not guilty.Charges against these labor activists included organizing opposition groups, acting against national security and propaganda against the regime.

Nima Pouryaghob is studying mechanical engineering and Sasan Vahebivash is majoring in biomedical engineering at Tabriz Azad University.Shahrokh Zamani is a member of the Representatives’ Council in the Coordinating Committee to Create Labor Organizations and also a member of the Painters Union.Mohammad Jarahi is a labor activist.Although Shahrokh Zamani was unable to post his heavy bail for a while, all four labor activists are currently free on bail.

The verdicts issued against these political activists are unprecedented in Tabriz in the recent few years.

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Heavy Prison Terms for Labor Activists & Students in Tabriz

HRANA News Agency – Shahrokh Zamani, Nima Pouryaghob, Mohammad Jarahi and Sasan Vahebivash have been sentenced to heavy prison terms in Tabriz, Iran.

According to a report by Human Rights Activists News Agency (HRANA), the aforementioned individuals are labor activists and students in the city of Tabriz.The Revolutionary Court, Branch 1, has issued verdicts sentencing them to a total of 22 years and 6 months in prison.A fifth defender, Buick Sydler, was found not guilty.

Shahrokh Zamani was sentenced to 11 years in prison on charges of organizing an opposition group and propaganda against the regime.

Mohammad Jarahi received a 5 year prison term for organizing an opposition group.Nima Pouryaghob was sentenced to 6 years in prison on charges of organizing an opposition group and propaganda against the regime.

Sasan Vahebivash received a 6 month prison term on charges of the membership in an organization opposing IRI and propaganda against the regime.

The Revolutionary Court, Branch 1, tried and convicted these leftist labor activists and students on August 18, 2011.Prior to this trial, a bail approximately equivalent to $94,000 was set for Nima Pouryaghob while Sasan Vahebivash and Buick Sydler each posted approximately $30,000 bail to be temporally released from Tabriz Prison.

The verdicts issued against these political activists are unprecedented in Tabriz in the recent few years.