Atefeh Rangriz, a master’s student in sociology who has been in detention since May Day (May 1st, 2019), started a hunger strike.
Ms. Rangriz, who has been sentenced to 11 years and six months imprisonment and 74 lashes by the judiciary, has begun a hunger strike in Gharchak prison in Varamin in protest the unjust process of her case on Wednesday October 16th, 2019.
Labor sources have said that the labor activist has been repeatedly deprived of her rights over the past 5 months and has been pursuing all possible ways to bring her case back to a fair trial.
Branch 28 of the Tehran Revolutionary Court chaired by Judge Mohammad Moghiseh, sentenced Atefeh Rangriz, to 11 years and 6 months imprisonment and 74 lashes.
The labor activist is accused of “gathering and colluding against national security” and “disrupting public order” by participating in workers’ protests and International Labor Day protests. She has been sentenced to severe punishment by Judge Moghiseh.
On Wednesday, May 1st, 2019, International Labor Day, following a call by The Syndicate of Workers of Suburbs Bus Company, the Retirees’ Union, Coordination Committee, and Students to hold a World Labor Day celebration, workers, retirees and citizens gathered in front of the Islamic Congress. They were in front of the parliament in various groups. The gathering became violence by security forces and several citizens were arrested.
All detainees have been released on bail, but Atefeh Rangriz, Neda Naji, and Marzieh Amiri are among those still in prison.
Atefeh Rangriz was sentenced to 11 and 1/2 years in prison, and Marzieh Amiri to 10 and 1/2 years in prison and 148 lashes. Neda Naji is still in prison with a pending case.