The regime in Iran continues prosecuting labour activists – It includes from arrests up to harassments of those already in jail and their families. These activists are in prison solely for their union activities. Our demands are immediate and unconditional release of these activists, and we call on all trade unions and human rights organisations around the world to put pressure on Islamic regime to release these workers and stop persecution of labour activists in Iran. Currently, many worker activists and numerous political prisoners are in jail in Iran.
Some of the jailed workers include:
Jafar Azimzadeh, a well-known labor leader and the head of the Free Union of Workers of Iran, and one of the coordinators of the 40 thousand-signatures-petition the increase in wages, went to Evin prison on November 8, 2015 in order to serve his six-year sentence.
Esmail Abdi, the secretary general of the Teachers’ Association, Was arrested on 27th July. He is accused of engaging in “propaganda against the Islamic Republic,”.
Esmail Abdi has sentenced to 6 years jail on February 22, 2016
Behnam Ebrahimzadeh, a labour and children’s rights activist, and a member of the Committee to Pursue the Establishment of Workers’ Organisations in Iran. He was arrested on 12 June 2012 in Tehran and sentenced to 5 years in jail. Behnam has served five years of his original sentence. But he has sentenced to another seven years, 10 months and fifteen days imprisonment. Behnam has continuously been under physical and psychological torture while his only child is undergoing treatment for Leukaemia (Blood Cancer). Behnam suffers from various ailments such as kidney pain, bleeding gums, neck and back injuries due to extended periods of torture followed by no medical treatment. Despite all these pressures, Behnam has insisted on the legitimacy of his struggle and demands his rights in prison.
Mohammad Jarahi , a member of the Committee to Pursue the Establishment of Workers’ Organisations in Iran, was arrested in January 2012 and sentenced to 5 years in prison for union activities. Following an operation on his thyroid gland last year, the doctors have advised recuperation outside prison conditions. However, Jarahi has been refused medical leave by prison authorities.
Rasoul Bodaghi, a member of the governing board of Teachers’ Trade Association. He was arrested on 1st September 2009 and sentenced to a six-year jail term fonr union activity. The August 4, 6 years of prison conviction of rasol bodaghi was eded. But he has sentenced to another 3 years imprisonment. He is now being held in Evin prison.
Ali Akbar Baghani , Vice executive board of the Teachers’ Trade Association , Following the recent nationwide protests by teachers was arrested on25th June 2015. Baghani is in Gohardasht prison, outside of Tehran.
Mahmoud Beheshti spokesman of the Teachers, Trade Association was arrested August 6, 2015. He has sentenced to 5 years jailed.
lireza Hashemi, The secretary of the Teachers’ Trade Association was arrested on 19th April 2015 after nationwide protests of thousands of teachers s on 16th April for a wage raise..
Abdolreza Ghanbari, a teacher activist. He was arrested in December 2009 and has been sentenced to 10 years for taking part in the anti-government demonstrations. He is being held in Rajaei shahr prison.
Jalil Mohammadi, a members of the Co-ordinating Committee to Help Form Workers’ Organisations was arrested March 8, 2016, International Women day
In addition, labor activists such as Davoud Razavi, Reza Shahabi, Mohammad Reza Niknezhad, Mehdi Bohloli , Mahmoud Salehi, Osman Esmaili, and Jamil Mohammad have been sentenced to jail and they are at risk of arrest
Davoud Razavi and Reza Shahabi two members of the executive board of the Union of Workers of Tehran and Suburbs United Bus Company have been sentenced to 5 years and 1 year, Mohammad Reza Niknezhad and Mehdi Bohloli two members of teachers, Trade Association , have been sentenced to 5 years jail, Mahmoud Salehi and Osman Esmaili tow members of the Co-ordinating Committee to Help Form Workers’ Organisations in Iran have been entenced to 9 years and 1 year jail. Jamil Mohammadi members of the executive board of “The Free Labour Union of Iran have been sentenced to 3 and half years jail.
– 9 workers of Iron mine of Bafqh of Yazd, representing 5000 workers who had gone on strike in the summer of the previous year, were summoned to court .on 17th of January and 16th February were tried. The judicial authorities of Islamic Republic were not able to reach a decision due to fear of protests by workers. The next trial is due on March 2016. The trial of these 9 workers of Bafqh mine, because of their struggle for their righteous demands, is indeed the trial of all 5000 workers of this mine. These trials must be cancelled and any kind of fabrication of charges against them must be stopped.
– Ebrahim Madadi a member of the executive board of the Union of Workers of Tehran and Suburbs United Bus Company were summoned to court on February 2016.
All jailed workers and political prisoners must be freed immediately and unconditionally! Harassment of workers and their families must stop immediately!
Join us on to demand the immediate and unconditional release of all jailed and all political prisoners in Iran.
March 2016
Free Them Now! Campaign to Free Jailed Workers in Iran,
Coordinator: Shahla Daneshfar , shahla_daneshfar@yahoo.com