On 9 August Reza Shahabi, an executive board member of Tehran Bus Workers’ Union (Vahed Union), who has been in and out of prison since 2010, was imprisoned again. Shahabi went on a hunger strike, and soon his health deteriorated to the extent that international human rights organisations and the International Trade Union Confederation (ITUC) issued statements calling for his unconditional release. A protest was held in front of the Iranian Parliament in September demanding his release. But the police forcibly dispersed the protestors. Shahabi insists that his 986-day sentence should be repealed. He has vowed to go on another hunger strike if his demands are not met. On 27 September 27 Reza Shahabi conditionally ended his hunger strike, after a “high security official” promised to review his requests. On 13 December he suffered a first stroke but was brought to the hospital only two days later. According to local media, he might have suffered a second stroke on 23 December.
Recently, both in Iran and abroad, there have been growing protests for Reza Shahabi’s freedom. A protest rally was held on 26 December, outside the Ministry of Labour in Tehran, to address the alarming situation and the deteriorating health conditions of Reza Shahabi. This gathering was brutally attacked by security forces, and reportedly about 40 people, many of whom women, were arrested, including Reza Shahabi’s wife.
