Kurdish labour activist Eghbal Shabani was temporarily released from Sanandaj Central Prison on 31 May after 12 days in detention on bail of 5 billion Iranian rials – nearly 10,000 USD.

The Kurdistan Human Rights Network (KHRN) has learned that the activist was transferred to Sanandaj Central Prison on 30 May after completing his interrogation at the Ministry of Intelligence detention centre.

Shabani was arrested by security forces on 19 May, following a recent wave of arrests of labour activists in Sanandaj.

Also, on 17 May, security forces arrested eight labour activists who were visiting the family of Houman Abdollahi, one of the victims of the recent anti-government protests in Sanandaj.

Activists Hajar Saeidi, Habibollah Karimi, Shadman Abdi, Kamal Karimi, Abdollah Kheir-Abadi, Eghbal Pishkari, Khabat Mahmoudi and Sirvan Mahmoudi were arrested at Abdollahi’s home without a court warrant.

In addition, the intelligence ministry arrested labour activist Borhan Saeidi in Sanandaj after summoning him on 18 May.

Khabat Mahmoudi, Sirvan Mahmoudi and Kamal Karimi have been released on bail in recent days.

The other detained activists are still being held in the Ministry of Intelligence detention centre.