Health fears for jailed Iranian trade unionist

The Tehran bus drivers’ union the Vahed Syndicate, of whichimprisoned Iranian trade unionist Reza Shahabi is a board member, has raisedconcerns about his state of health.

According to the union he has been returned to prison after beingtaken to hospital for an MRI scan and X rays for a neck injury. He had previouslybeen transferred to hospital due to deteriorating health following his hungerstrike last year.

Reza Shahabi is in jail, like other Iranian trade unionists, simply for exercising their fundamental human right to freedom of association.

ITF general secretary David Cockroft said: “Reza has now been unjustly heldsince his arrest in June of last year. This is clearly taking a toll on hishealth. It is past time for the authorities to withdraw the false charges ofendangering national security used against him and let Reza – along with otherunjustly detained trade unionists such as Ebrahim Madadi – go free.”

Mac Urata, International Transport Workers Federation