Iranian Labor Activists Beaten, Arrested in Shocking Raid on Grieving Family's Home

Iranian security forces have brutally arrested seven labor activists in the western city of Sanandaj, and took them to an unknown location, IranWire has learned.

The activists were arrested on the evening of May 17 when agents affiliated to the Sanandaj Intelligence Department stormed the family home of a 21-year-old protester killed by security forces last year, a source said. 

Labor activists Kamal Karimi, Shadman Abdi, Abdullah Khairabadi, Sirvan Mahmoudi, Iqbal Pishkari, Khabat Mahmoudi and Habibullah Karimi, were subjected to severe beatings and whisked away.

The agents did not show any judicial document or say what charges the activists face.

During the arrest operation, the security forces verbally abused Homan Abdullahi's grieving family and used physical violence against his father Farshid.

They also destroyed a bouquet of flowers brought by the seven labor activists to honor the memory of Abdullahi, who was killed during three days of protests and strikes in Sanandaj in early December last year. 

Khairabadi and Pishkari have previously been summoned, detained and interrogated by the Sanandaj Intelligence Department for their activism.