From: Free Them Now (Campaign to free all jailed workers in Iran)
13-10-2018
Dear friends
As you know it is now two weeks that Iranian Truck drivers in 320 cities and towns are in strike protesting the corrupt system of transport and low income and their unbearable economic conditions. So far more than 250 drivers been arrested by the security forces. according to several reports on 8th October 2018, Mohsen Karami the head of Qazvin province Prosecutor’s Office, filed a lawsuit against 17 detainees. He said: “We will demand the highest punishment for them and if their enmity is proven, heavy sentences such as execution will be waiting for them.” The Islamic regime’s message to the truck drivers is very clear: Silently accept poverty and work for less, or we will kill you!
“Free Them Now” calls on all workers and human activists around the world to step in immediately and condemn these death threats by the Islamic regime against the striking truck drivers. This is an urgent situation and truck drivers need your active and immediate support. As Mr. Steven Cotton, Secretary-General of the International Transport Workers’ Federation said in a letter published on 12th October 2018, “The death penalty for striking is the most serious of violations of workers’ rights, it’s inhumane and unthinkable”, he added, “From what we understand, Iran’s truckers took action as a last resort in the struggle to feed their families. The threat of the death penalty is utterly disproportionate.” Mr Cotton has also called on the International Labour Organization to intervene in the matter.
The death threat against the workers who are struggling to defend their basic rights should be strongly condemned by all workers and people of the world. Iranian drivers and workers expect to see your immediate intervention in this sensitive issue and rise against Islamic murderous regime of Iran and use all your power to prevent any catastrophe against the striking truck drivers. All jailed drivers and workers should be released immediately and their demands should be fulfilled
Free Them Now (Campaign to Free Jailed Workers in Iran)
shahla.Daneshfar2@gmail.com