#Human Rights
Target:
Ahmed Shaheed, UN, Navi Pillay, Ban Ki Moon, Amnesty, HRW, EU members
Region:
Iran
Website:
www.facebook.com

UPDATE 2013- 11- 08

DOCUMENT - IRAN: JAILED TRADE UNIONIST’S HEALTH AT RISK: REZA SHAHABI

UA: 306/13 Index: MDE 13/043/2013 Iran
Date: 7 November 2013
URGENT ACTION: jailed trade unionist’s health at risk.

Iranian trade unionist Reza Shahabi, held in Tehran’s Evin Prison, is in urgent need of medical care that he cannot obtain in prison. He is serving a six-year prison sentence. Reza Shahabi is a prisoner of conscience who must be released immediately and unconditionally.

Reza Shahabi (also known as Reza Shahabi Zakaria), treasurer of the Union of Workers of the Tehran and Suburbs Bus Company (Sherkat-e Vahed), was taken to Imam Khomeini Hospital outside of Evin Prison on 19 October 2013 for severe back pain and numbness in his left foot. He has had chronic back pain since surgery was performed on his spine in May 2012 and he has received “injections” from prison medical officials for the pain, though the underlying condition appears to have not been treated.

Hospital doctors concluded Reza Shahabi required care outside of prison and said that without further treatment he may suffer paralysis on the left side of his body. Doctors have written to the prison administration and the office of the Prosecutor of Tehran of their diagnosis that Reza Shahabi requires medical care outside of prison.

Reza Shahabi has previously gone on several hunger strikes in protest at the Iranian authorities’ treatment of him and other prisoners, including denial of medical leave. He ended a 22-day hunger strike on 7 January 2013 before being released on medical leave in protest at the Iranian authorities’ denial of his repeated requests for leave. His medical leave ended on 15 April 2013. Medical leave is temporary release from prison for medical treatment.

Reza Shahabi is serving a six-year prison sentence in Section 350 of Evin Prison after being convicted in April 2012 of “gathering and colluding against state security” and “spreading propaganda against the system” by Branch 15 of the Revolutionary Court of Tehran, charges connected to his trade union activities. He has also been fined 70 million rials (US$5,700) and banned from all trade unionist activities for five years. In July 2012 Branch 36 of Tehran’s Appeal Court upheld his sentence.

Source : Amnesty International
http://www.amnesty.org/en/library/asset/MDE13/043/2013/en/356c2a01-62f0-4f00-8fd9-de6058958611/mde130432013en.html

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UPDATE Iranhrc 13 08 2013

Trade unionist Reza Shahabi in strike on medical treatment in jail.

According to Südwind journalist,Vandad Oladiazimi, Reza Shahabi,a member of director's board of the drivers' trade union of great Tehran and it's Suburb,who has been imprisoned on political charges since June 2010, is refusing medical treatment to protest against the prevention of treatment in hospital, his poor medical care, insolence of the prison's medical doctor and abuse by prison guards against him at the Evin prison.

According to reports from inside the prison,Shahabi 's condition is deteriorating rapidly, but the prison authorities and attorney general–despite other published news-deny him a medical leave from prison.

Reza Shahabi, who was,the treasurer of the Syndicate of Workers of Tehran and Suburbs Bus Company labor union in Tehran, Iran's capital, suffers from back and neck pain. At the time being he is numb from the neck down and need to be examined and treated by a neurologist.

Source : Iranhrc

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UPDATE : Hrana 20th July, 2013

Six political prisoners started hunger strike in Evin

HRANA News Agency – 6 political prisoners of ward 350 of Evin prison have started hunger strike opposing the transfer of Said Matinpour to the solitaries of ward 240.

According to a report by Human Rights Activists News Agency (HRANA), Reza Shahbi Zakaria, Fereydun Seydi Rad, Soroush Sabet, Said Haeri, Vahid Ali Gholipour and Said Jalalifar have started hunger strike to protest against the transfer of Said Matinpour to the solitaries of ward 240 of Evin prison.

These political prisoners have said in a short message: “Because Said Matinpour has been transferred to the solitaries of ward 240 without any acceptable reason. We announce that we want him to benefit the health treatment and specially furlough and since transferring him to the solitary in with no acceptable reason and we are worried about his health condition so much, we start our hunger strike from Thursday July 18, 2013 till he is brought back to the ward 350.”

These prisoners say he is suffering from severe back pain due to spinal curvature, drive back and stomach ache.

Source : Hrana
https://hra-news.org/en/six-political-prisoners-started-hunger-strike-in-evin

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Deteriorating health of jailed labor activist Reza Shahabi #Iran

CHRR 17 July 2013

Committee of Human Rights Reporters – Jailed labor activist Reza Shahabi’s health is plunging behind bars as prison officials refuse to grant furlough for his medical needs. The treasurer of Union of Workers of the Tehran and Suburbs Bus Company (Sherkat-e Vahed) has said he will resort to going on hunger strike in protest.

Mahmoud Salehi, labor activist and spokesperson for Committee to Defend Reza Shahabi in Iran, said in an interview with CHRR, “Mr. Reza Shahabi has been in very poor health since his return behind bars from furlough. He is in excruciating pain in his neck area, suffers from a cervical and spine injury, and has dangerous fluctuations in his blood pressure. Despite all of this, he has not been seen by a specialist physician while behind bars. He and his family have made numerous requests for him to be transferred to a hospital to receive necessary care, but to no avail. The officials just take him to the Evin prison infirmary as an outpatient and give him pain medication.”

Salehi was asked about the types of pain medication that are administered to Reza Shahabi behind bars. “The physicians employed in the infirmaries of Iran’s prisons are general practitioners. Since most prisoners are non-political, the GP’s just to the minimum needed to get the prisoners out of the infirmary and there is no separation of political or criminal prisoners. They usually just give the prisoners pain killers and sleeping pills because they are not specialists and don’t have access to any other type of medication.”

Mahmoud Salehi, labor activist and former political prisoner, made a request that Reza Shahabi be transferred to a hospital with specialized care and not be taken to a public facility that is not capable of handling Shahabi’s medical needs.

CHRR asked the spokesperson for Committee to Defend Reza Shahabi about the possibility of another hunger strike. “We have made a request to Mr. Shahabi that he refrain from going on another hunger strike. However we cannot make decisions for a prisoner because we are free and not behind bars; we cannot fully know the circumstances that the prisoner is faced with in prison. Only the prisoner profoundly suffers the experience, faces the difficulties and endures the hardships.”

In ending Mahmoud Salehi while expressing his deep worry for Reza Shahabi said, “At the very least I hope a new case file is not generated for Mr. Shahabi with the excuse that he had a leave of absence, so that he can finally receive his crucial medical care after the end of his prison term in [late March 2014].

Source : CHRR
http://chrr.biz/spip.php?article21411

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UPDATE CHRR April 17 , 2013

Reza Shahabi returned to prison.

Committee of Human Rights Reporters – Labor activist Reza Shahabi returned behind bars in Evin prison with the ending of his medical furlough.

According to CHRR, Reza Shahabi, treasurer of Union of Workers of the Tehran and Suburbs Bus Company (Sherkat-e Vahed), who was granted medical furlough on January 7, 2013 due to his deteriorating health, returned to prison on Monday April 15th.

Reza Shahabi was inflicted with serious health problems while he was held in custody including dangerous fluctuations of his blood pressure and a severe cervical and spine injury. He embarked on several hunger strikes in prison in protest of being banned from needed medical attention an medical furlough.

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UPDATE 8 JANUARY 2013

Labour activist ends prison hunger strike
Radio Zamaneh Tue, 01/08/2013

Jailed Iranian labour activist Reza Shahabi has ended his hunger strike after 23 days, after he was given a five-day furlough by Evin Prison authorities.

The Committee in Defence of Reza Shahabi reports that the executive member of the Tehran transit drivers union was released late on the night of Monday January 7.

Reza Shahabi has been under arrest since June 2009 and was sentenced to six years in jail for his labour activities.

He began a hunger strike 23 days ago to protest his mistreatment in prison and the lack of proper medical attention for his conditions.

He is suffering from neck and spine complications that may lead to paralysis.

Many international labour organizations spoke out in support of Shahabi, urging the Iranian government to release him.

UPDATE 7 JANUARY 2013

Hunger-striking activist attracts international concern

Radio Zamaneh Mon, 01/07/2013

Twenty days into a hunger strike by jailed Iranian labour activist Reza Shahabi, labour organizations in various countries have expressed concern regarding Shahabi’s health.

The Committee in Defence of Reza Shahabi has issued a statement to report on the condition of the jailed executive member of Tehran’s Vahed Company transit drivers’ union. The statement reports: “Reza Shahabi is in very bad health after two and a half years of prison, interrogations and abuse and is in immediate need of medical treatment and relief.”

It goes on to add: “The only effective solution in this situation is the immediate release of Reza Shahabi and his hospitalization in a well-equipped institution.”

Reza Shahabi has been on hunger strike since December 17. He has been refusing food and medicine in protest against his mistreatment by prison authorities and demanding that he receive medical treatment outside of prison facilities.

The Committee in Defence of Reza Shahabi reports that labour organizations in France, UK, Denmark, the U.S. and Canada have written letters of support for Shahabi, demanding the authorities take responsibility for the jailed labour activist’s health.

On Tuesday, the Shahabi family gave the authorities a documented application calling for the release of Shahabi, but so far the authorities have not responded.

Shahabi was sentenced to six months in jail and a five-year ban from union activities. He is suffering from great pain due to neck and spine injuries and has been hospitalized on several occasions during his prison term.

UPDATE 19 DECEMBER 2012

Reza Shahabi, Iranian Imprisoned labor Activist Begins Hunger Strike

HRANA News Agency – Reza Shahabi, an Iranian labor leader imprisoned since June 2010, went on hunger strike on 17 Dec 2012 to protest against mistreatment by jail guards as well as prevention of his medical treatment by the judicial authorities.

According to a report by Human Rights Activists News Agency (HRANA), Reza Shahabi's physical conditions have deteriorated. He has announced that he will refuse taking his medication and eating food until he is allowed to be transferred to a hospital outside prison for complete treatment.

Update May 9 , 2012

Reza Shahabi (also known as Reza Shahabi Zakaria), the Treasurer of the Union of Workers of the Tehran and Suburbs Bus Company (Sherkat-e Vahed), has been detained in Evin Prison in the Iranian capital, Tehran, since June 2010. He is in poor health after numerous hunger strikes in protest at the conditions in which he is held. Since around February 2012, he has complained that one side of his body was numb.

However, it was not until 30 April that the prison authorities took him to hospital. It is not clear whether he is receiving adequate medical treatment.

SOURCE : Amnesty International

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UPDATE 14 April 2012

Reza Shahabi - trade unionist and a board member of Syndicate of Workers of Tehran -
is sentenced to 6 years imprisonment!

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Press Release: Reza Shahabi’s Condition Alarming
THURSDAY, 01 DECEMBER 2011

HRANA News Agency – The administrative office of Human Rights Activists in Iran has issued a press release to express concerns over Reza Shahabi’s condition in prison after this political prisoner began his hunger strike, and the news of his deteriorating health was reported.

Human Rights Activists in Iran has requested that the Special Rapporteur of the United Nations to pay immediate attention to this prisoner of conscience. Demanding immediate and unconditional release of the labor activist Reza Shahabi, this organization has also reminded the government of Iran that the freedom to form and participate in labor unions is an integral part of international obligations towards human rights.

Pointing out that the Islamic Republic of Iran has historically neglected the health and general wellbeing of political prisoners, Human Rights Activists in Iran has announced that this organization holds the government of Iran including the State Prisons System, the Judiciary Branch and the Intelligence Agency responsible for the health and life of Reza Shahabi.

This press release as published on the organization’s official web site contains the following:

Reza Shahabi is a labor activist and the board member of SWTSBC, the Syndicate of Workers of Tehran and Suburbs Bus Company. He was also previously in charge of the labor committee of Human Rights Activists in Iran. On Saturday, June 12, 2010, four security agents arrested Reza Shahabi at work around 10:00am. Since then, he has been in temporary custody in a legal state of limbo. On Tuesday, November 22, 2011, Reza Shahabi began his open ended hunger strike to protest against the present conditions under which he has been incarcerated.

The current hunger strike is just another form of objection in a series of attempts made by Reza Shahabi to protest against being imprisoned illegally. On May 25, 2011, Reza Shahabi appeared in the 15th branch of the Revolutionary Court in order to face charges filed against him. Although the presiding judge announced that a ruling would be issued within four days after the trial, Reza Shahabi still remains in a legal state of limbo indefinitely.

While locked up in Ward 209 of Evin Prison, Reza Shahabi has been in hunger strike several times in the past. He suffers from osteoarthritis, low blood pressure, and heart and liver problems. During his incarceration, the degenerative arthritis has resulted in the loss of control over the left side of his body such that physicians have strongly recommended immediate surgery for him.

Given Reza Shahabi’s serious medical problems threatening his life and the fact that there has been no news of him since he began his latest hunger strike, Human Rights Activists of Iran has become increasingly concerned about this political prisoner’s current condition.

Human Rights Activists of Iran announces that this labor activist has been in a legal state of limbo for nearly 18 months. According to Article 9, part 3 of International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, anyone arrested or detained on criminal charges shall be brought promptly before a judge and shall be entitled to a trial within a reasonable amount of time or must be released. Additionally, Article 32 of the Islamic Republic’s constitution strongly reiterates that the charges against an individual who has been detained must be formally given to him in writing, and within 24 hours, the initial case must be referred to the judicial officials in order to begin criminal proceeding as soon as possible.

Moreover, Reza Shahabi’s life has been endangered due to the lack of proper medical care during his incarceration. Such treatment is in violation of Article 22, Part II of Geneva Convention defining the rights of prisoners and Article 103 of the State Prisons System’s regulations requiring the availability of all necessary medical care to inmates who might have to be taken outside the prison to seek treatment.

Human Rights Activists in Iran hereby requests that the Special Rapporteur of the United Nations to pay immediate attention to this prisoner of conscience and his current condition. Human Rights Activists in Iran also demands immediate and unconditional release of the labor activist Reza Shahabi and reminds the government of Iran that the freedom to form and participate in labor unions is an integral part of international obligations towards human rights.

Since the Islamic Republic of Iran has historically neglected the health and general wellbeing of political prisoners, Human Rights Activists in Iran hereby holds the government of Iran including the State Prisons System, the Judiciary Branch and the Intelligence Agency responsible for the health and life of Reza Shahabi.

The Administrative Office of Human Rights Activists in Iran
November 29, 2011

http://www.en-hrana.org/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=585:press-release-reza-shahabis-condition-alarming&catid=2:statements&Itemid=4

1) We the undersigned demand the immediate and unconditional release of Reza Shahabi.

2) We demand for Reza Shahabi to receive urgently needed medical care for the torture wounds inflicted by prison authorities.

3) We demand the prison authorities, all government forces, agents, police, and basij to stop the inhumane torture of Iranian citizens in prison in Iran!

The Immediate & Unconditional Release of Reza Shahabi petition to Ahmed Shaheed, UN, Navi Pillay, Ban Ki Moon, Amnesty, HRW, EU members was written by Anette Meyer and is in the category Human Rights at GoPetition.