A/HRC/40/24 authorities reportedly detained 150 truck driver protestors 120 after they resumed their strike in September. The Prosecutor-General further suggested that those involved could receive the death penalty for “acting against national security”,121 and a court in Qazvin Province requested the death penalty for 17 truck drivers arrested there. 122 This led to truck drivers recommencing their strikes in November. 54. Ten steel workers at the Iran National Steel Industrial Group in Ahvaz were detained for several days after night-time raids in March for their involvement in a strike over wages and work conditions.123 In June, “dozens” were reportedly arrested, claiming three months of unpaid wages.124 The strike of steel workers resumed in November in the absence of a response.125 55. Protests extended to the education sector, amidst reports indicating that teachers live below the poverty line. 126 In May 2018, Mohammad Habibi, a member of the Iranian Teachers’ Trade Association of Tehran, was arrested and convicted three months later on national security-related charges. 127 He was sentenced to ten and a half years of imprisonment and 74 lashes and was banned from political participation and travel. 128 Mr. Habibi has reportedly been denied medical care 129 despite allegedly suffering continuous pain from injuries caused by ill-treatment inflicted by the authorities during his arrest.130 Teachers across the Islamic Republic of Iran protested against low wages and underfunding during a sit-in organized by the Council for Coordination among Teachers Unions, on 14 and 15 October 2018.131 A second round of protests was organized in mid-November, with reports of teachers being detained or summoned to courts for their participation. 132 The right to work of the Baha’i 56. Concerns relating to the right to work also affect minority groups, such as the Baha’i, who have been prohibited from working in the public sector and many private enterprises.133 In November 2017, several Baha’i-owned businesses were sealed and closed by local authorities after they had temporarily closed during Baha’i holy days. 134 In December 2017, the Special Assistant to the Iranian President for Civil Rights stated that “inquiries have been made from the President’s legal deputy in relation to the sealing of business premises and the prohibition of the activities of Baha’i. We will continue this discussion through legal means until we find a solution for the matter.”135 While this is an 120 121 122 123 124 125 126 127 128 129 130 131 132 133 134 135 14 See www.itfglobal.org/en/news-events/press-releases/2018/october/itf-statement-on-iran-truckersstrike/, www.ilna.ir/fa/tiny/news-673910 and www.ilna.ir/fa/tiny/news-673088. Ibid. See www.irna.ir/qazvin/fa/News/83058567. See www.industriall-union.org/iran-10-detained-after-protests-over-unpaid-wages-of-4000-steelworkers. See www.hra-news.org/2018/hranews/a-15727/. See www.iranhumanrights.org/2018/11/steel-and-sugarcane-workers-rally-in-ahvaz-to-demandunpaid-wages/. See https://ei-ie.org/en/detail/16032/iran-solidarity-with-trade-union-leaders-arrested-afterteachers%E2%80%99strike?fbclid=IwAR0C6PPsTFGTik7G_ESzHNmRN5rTiFvksnn0s0ezev1NOkAJbNTBGh1-VNc. See www.hrw.org/news/2018/11/22/iran-mounting-crackdown-teachers-labor-activists. Ibid.; and see www.amnesty.org/en/documents/mde13/9179/2018/en/. See www.amnestyusa.org/wp-content/uploads/2018/10/uaa17418.pdf. See https://ei-ie.org/en/detail/15931/iran-teacher-trade-unionist-mohammed-habibi-sentenced-to-tenand-a-half-years-in-prison. See https://ei-ie.org/en/detail/16032/iran-solidarity-with-trade-union-leaders-arrested-afterteachers%E2%80%99-strike?fbclid=IwAR0C6PPsTFGTik7G_ESzHNmRN5rTiFvksnn0s 0ezev1NOkAJbNTBGh1-VNc. See www.hrw.org/news/2018/11/22/iran-mounting-crackdown-teachers-labor-activists. See A/71/374. See www.iranhumanrights.org/2016/11/bahai-life-rights-karaj/ and http://iranpresswatch.org/post/ 19787/bahai-businesses-shuttered-ongoing-persecution-campaign/. See http://iranpresswatch.org/post/18522/shahindokht-molaverdi-written-communications-regardingforced-closure-bahai-owned-businesses/.