Mistreatment of Iranian Labor Activists in Gharchak Women’s Prison Continues
July 30, 2019
Neda Naji, Atefeh Rangriz and Sepideh Gholian, Iranian labor activists imprisoned in Gharchak Women’s Prison, are in a dangerous situation according to social media statements by their family members.
Naji, Rangriz and Gholian have been attacked by a prisoner transferred to Gharchak from Varamin’s Psychiatric Ward, Naji’s husband tweeted on Tuesday, July 30. Jamal Ameli warned that “the lives of our beloved are in danger”.
Human rights activists have previously raised alarm about the prison situation of Neda Naji and Atefeh Rangriz. They are among the activists who still remain in custody after their arrest at the May Day demonstration in Tehran this year.
Both political prisoners were beaten and seriously injured a month ago by prisoners accused of violent crimes. It was also reported that when the women activists went to the clinic as a result of their injuries, prison guards hit them for not wearing the compulsory Hijab.
“In some cases Iranian authorities keep political prisoners in violent crime prisoners’ wards as a form of punishment”, former political prisoner and journalist Masoud Bastani told Zamaneh.
The general health conditions of the three activists are a matter of concern, too.
Ameli wrote on Tuesday that Rangriz was transferred to the prison’s clinic following an asthma attack and is under oxygen therapy.
Sepideh Gholian, a 23-year female labor rights activist and citizen journalist began an eight-day of hunger strike. According to reports, her health condition has deteriorated. Gholian is unable to walk and is transferred inside the prison in a wheelchair.
Gholian, who was arrested in connection with the Haft-Tappeh Sugarcane Complex workers’ protests half a year ago, has started a hunger strike in protest against the mistreatment of her parents by the prison guards during their visits, according to her brother’s Instagram post.
Shirin Ebadi, prominent Iranian lawyer and Noble Peace Prize laureate, has issued a statement and warned about Gholian’s dangerous situation. Ebadi has asked for popular support for Gholian.
Neda Naji has also refused to go to the clinic for medical treatment, demanding an end to “wrongdoings” by the prison wardens.
Among other pro-labor activists in Iran’s prisons are: Esmail Bakhshi, one of the workers’ representatives in the Haft Tappeh Independent Labor Union; Jafar Azimzadeh and Shapour Ehsani Rad, board members of the Free Union of Iranian Workers (FUIW); and Sanaz Allahyari, Amir Hossein Mohammadi Fard, and Amir Amirgholi, the editorial team of an online left-wing magazine called “Gaam”.
