The government of Iran continues its deliberate policy of denying essential medical care to imprisoned labour rights defenders.
Osman Ismaili, 63, has been repeatedly arrested and jailed for his militant support for worker rights. Most recently, he was arrested in February 2023 and sentenced to 16 months in prison following his participation in the funeral of Mahsa Amini, the young woman who died in police custody in September 2022. Amini’s death sparked the nationwide “Woman, Life, Freedom” protests.
- He suffers from cardiovascular and other serious illnesses aggravated by long spells of imprisonment and is now threatened with paralysis and the loss of his legs due to herniated spinal discs
- Prison authorities are fully aware of his condition but have denied treatment
- The IUF has called on the ILO to intervene with the government of Iran to allow Ismaili the medical care he urgently needs as well as his release from prison
Sue Longley, IUF General Secretary stated, “The IUF will continue to advocate for Osman Ismaili until he receives the health care he needs.”
