Reports received by Iran International indicate the arrest of Yunus Azadbar, a labor activist, during a gathering of Social Security pensioners in Rasht, by security forces and his transfer to a prison in that city.

Based on these reports, the prosecutor has set a bail bond of 1.5 billion tomans for this labor activist.

The reports also indicate that Azadbar, who suffers from epilepsy and heart ailments, did not have access to his medications.

The Metal Mechanical Workers’ Union, citing a statement published by several Social Security pensioners, wrote that Azadbar was arrested in circumstances in which “oppressive forces” stationed themselves at the location and asked the pensioners to leave.

According to the statement, Azadbar was arrested after pensioners were asked to leave the gathering location.

The statement reads: “Kidnapping Yunus Azadbar is an undeniable crime against rights-seeking.” It also emphasizes: “We, the street-level demanders of Gilan, consider the hostage-taking of a labor activist for defending workers’ bread and the right to work a disgraceful act and condemn it. And with all our power we declare: ‘Yunus Azadbar must be freed, today, not tomorrow.’”