Esmail Bakhshi is the representative of the Haft Tappeh Sugar Cane Workers’ Union in Iran. Esmail helped organize the protests at the Haft Tapeh sugar factory in the city of Shush in November and December, over unpaid wages and alleged criminal activity by new private owners. Iranian State TV broadcast a programme claiming that Esmail Bakhshi and Sepideh Gholian, another activists who supported the Haft Tapeh strikers, had connections with Europe-based activists who "aim to topple the state". The same month, Esmail Bakhshi and Sepideh Gholian were arrested (on 20 January 2019). Esmail and Sepideh were arrested for the second time.