Kurdish labour activists Mahmoud Salehi and Osman Esmaeili have been released today from Saqqez Prison, 25 days after being arrested.
In late May, Branch 1 of the Islamic Revolutionary Court of Saqqez sentenced Salehi and Esmaeili to three and six months in prison, respectively on charges of “propaganda against the state” over holding International Workers’ Day celebrations.
The sentences were then, according to Article 38 of the Iranian Islamic Penal Code, commuted to payments of the fines of two million Iranian Tomans – nearly 80 USD – for Salehi and four million Tomans – nearly 160 USD – for Esmaeili.
The activists were arrested on 16 May after being summoned to the Public and Revolutionary Prosecutor’s Office in Saqqez. Their trial was held on 25 May, in the form of a video conference in Saqqez Prison.
The two labour activists have been released today in a way that five days had passed from the date set for the release of Salehi. Additionally, Esmaeili’s release has been subjected to the payment of a bail of 1.5 million Tomans – nearly 60 USD.
The security institutions and judiciary have, in the past years, repeatedly summoned and imprisoned Salehi and Esmaeili over their labour activities and celebrating International Workers’ Day.
