Jafar Azimzadeh, an Iranian labour activist and member of Iran’s Free Workers Union, has been summoned to serve out a six-year jail sentence.

Jafar Azimzadeh

Azimzadeh was sentenced last March to five years in jail for “assembly and collusion against national security” and “disruption of public order”. He was given another year for “propaganda activities against the regime”.

He has also been banned from media activities and membership in political groups for two years.

Jafar Azimzadeh was one of the organizers of a petition signed by 4,000 workers that called on Labour Minister Ali Rabii to improve labour conditions. Azimzadeh was arrested around International Workers Day last April and released after 46 days on bail of 100 million toumans.

Azimzadeh’s labour activities and involvement with independent workers unions have been considered evidence of the charges against him.