Kurdish labour activist Osman Esmaeili was released on a bail of 10 billion rials – nearly 20,000 USD – from Saqqez Prison on 17 April after 70 days of detention.

Security forces arrested Esmaeili in Saqqez, Kurdistan province, on 8 February and took him to the Ministry of Intelligence detention centre in Sanandaj, Kurdistan province.

He was transferred to Saqqez Prison on 15 March after initial interrogations.

During this time, the activist was denied the right to legal counsel and family visits

Esmaeili is a well-known labour activist who has been repeatedly detained and imprisoned by security forces for supporting workers’ rights.