To all trade unions around the world:
A regime which arrests, jails and flogs workers should not be in the ILO!
Boycott the Islamic Republic of IRAN at the ILO conference!
The Islamic regime of Iran continues its persecution of worker activists – from more arrests to harassment of those already in jail and their families. These activists are in prison purely for their union activities. Our campaign is working for the immediate and unconditional release of these activists, and calls on all trade unions and human rights organizations around the world to exert pressure on the Islamic Republic to help secure their release and for an end to persecution of worker activists in Iran.
Following the mass protests in Iran on December 2017 against the Islamic despotic regime a large number of people which came to the streets to protest against mass poverty and vioalation of their basic rights have been arrested and are still in jail.
Heavy jail sentences for labor activists in the past two years is a record high. Many workers, teacher’s activists and protesters who are defending workers, teachers, and children’s rights are being sentenced to heavy jail sentences on the charges like being “a threat to the national security”, “disturbing the peace”, “assembly and collusion against the government”, “propaganda against the government” and “insulting the supreme leader”.
Currently Mr Esmail Abdi, Mr Mokhtar Asadi , Mr Mahmoud Beheshti and Mohamed Habibi four teachers, Miss Atena Daemi, a well known children and women’s rights activist and an activist against the capital punishment and hundreds of other political activists are in prisons in Iran.
Pressure inside prisons is very harsh on worker activists and political activists. Deprivation from vital
medications, closure of hot showers, harassment, torture and life threats are regular.
– So called “Workers’ House” that its representatives normally participate in ILO conference as the representatives of the workers in Iran is a very known anti worker institution that has played an active and direct role in murder and suppression of workers, and are among criminal elements of Islamic Republic.
The main question is: Why is the ILO silent about these kind of anti labour policies and apparent aggressions against workers in Iran? Such a regime should not be in the ILO, but in international courts to face charges for its crimes against humanity. This regime should be expelled from the ILO and from all international bodies.
We request all the unions and the workers’ organisations and all delegates appalled at the abuse of labor and human rights to at least walk out of any meetings at which the representatives of the Islamic regime of Iran may want to take the podium and speak. Their mere presence should prompt your immediate walkout.
We ask you to:
- Demand the expulsion of the Islamic Republic of Iran from the ILO!
- Call for the release of all jailed workers and all political prisoners in Iran!
. Support workers in Iran
Free Them Now! Campaign to Free Jailed Workers in Iran
Shahla.Daneshfar2@gmail.com, https://free-them-now.com
9 May 2018