Kurdish trade union activist sentenced to one year in prison

Kurdish trade union activist Farhad Sheikhi was sentenced to one year in prison and additional terms by the First Branch of the Islamic Revolutionary Court in Karaj, Alborz Province, for “propaganda activities against the Islamic Republic of Iran” .

Sheikhi's trial took place on October 2, 2023, and he was informed of the verdict in recent days.

According to the verdict, Sheikhi was sentenced to one year in prison, two years banned from leaving Iran, two years of exile and compulsory residence in Divandarreh, Kurdistan province, and two years of ban on living in the provinces of Alborz and Tehran.

Sheikhi, originally from Saqqez in Kurdistan province, was arrested by security forces at his family's home in Hashtgerd in Karaj on May 28, 2023.

He was provisionally released from Rajai Shahr prison after 14 days on bail of one billion rials, or nearly $2,000.

Previously, on May 1, 2019, Sheikhi was arrested during a workers' rally on the occasion of International Workers' Day in front of the Tehran parliament. He was released on bail after 33 days in Fashafouyeh prison.

On August 4 of the same year, Branch 1058 of the Tehran Criminal Court sentenced Sheikhi to four months in prison and five lashes for “disturbing public order and peace,” suspended for two years.