Iranians hold 12 rallies in protest to delayed paychecks, economic woes

Tag: Esmail Bakhshi

Labor activist Esmail Bakhshi challenged Iran’s Minister of Intelligence to a live televised debate over the use of physical and psychological torture in prison.

The outspoken Haft Tappeh Sugarcane Factory labor representative was detained on November 18 on the 14th day of the sugarcane workers’ strike and was released on bail on December 12.

Esmail Bakhshi is known for his passionate speeches during the workers’ weeks long strike action.

He addressed Iran’s Intelligence Minister, Mahmoud Alavi, in his Instagram post which included a picture of himself, demanding to know why he was tortured “to the brink of death”.

“In the 25 days that I was unjustly detained by the Ministry of Intelligence, I went through such immense pain that I’m still suffering and I have turned to neurological drugs to ease the pain,” he wrote in his Instagram post.

“I have two fundamental questions that have completely boggled my mind and you are the only one who can answer them. This is my right and that of Iran’s honorable people to know the answer to these questions,” Esmail Bakhshi wrote.