Ebrahim Madadi, a labor activist and former board member of the Syndicate of Workers of Tehran and Suburbs Bus Company, was arrested on Sunday, August 11, 2024, after reporting to the Evin Prosecutor’s Office to serve his one-year prison sentence. He was subsequently transferred to Evin Prison.
According to the Campaign for the Defense of Political and Civil Prisoners, Mr. Madadi, who suffers from various health issues including diabetes, high blood pressure, and hearing problems, has been arrested and imprisoned multiple times in the past due to his union activities.
In 2015, Mr. Madadi was detained for 22 days and later released on bail. In 2016, he was sentenced to 5 years and 3 months in prison on security charges, a sentence that was upheld in 2018. However, this sentence was later overturned by the Supreme Court and reduced to one year.
It is noteworthy that in 2012, Mr. Madadi was also sentenced to 3 years and 6 months in prison for his union activities.
The arrest and transfer of Ebrahim Madadi to prison once again highlight the ongoing pressure on labor and civil activists in Iran. Long-term sentences, poor prison conditions, and the health problems of political prisoners are among the serious concerns regarding the human rights situation in Iran.
This event illustrates how civil activists are persecuted for defending workers’ rights and engaging in union activities. Civil society and human rights organizations are calling for the unconditional release of all political prisoners and an end to the repression and violence against civil activists.