On 14th March 2019, sugar cane workers of Haft Tapeh in Khuzestan province, Iran, circulated a petition in support of their jailed leader, Esmaeil Bakhshi.
As far majority of the company’s workers have signed the petition and started a fresh protest against imprisonment of the workers’ representative who is in prison and under pressure to take back his claims of being tortured in custody.
This petition says “…we, the workers of Haft Tapeh confirm that Esmaeil Bakhshi has been our legal representative and his aim has only been to defend the workers’ rights. Therefore we demand his immediate and unconditional release.”
Esmaeil Bakhshi was released from prison on 12th December 2019 after spending 25 days in custody for his role in the strike. After his release he published an open letter and challenged the government and invited the head of the Ministry of Intelligence of Islamic regime, Mr Alavi, to a televised debate over the tortures he had been subjected to. Ms Sepideh Gholiyan, the student activist who was arrested along with Bakhshi, supported the claims and publicly spoke out about the tortures she too had been subjected to.
The Islamic regime of Iran then broadcasted a reportage called “Burnt Plot” in which the activists were accused of “action against national security”, etc. Following the broadcasting of the video clip, both Esmaeil Bakhshi and Sepideh Gholiyan, who had called for public hearing of their claims, were arrested again. According to reports, currently Mr Bakhshi and Ms Gholiyan are under torture so they would take back their claims of being tortured in custody.
Esmaeil Bakhshi has a special place in the hearts of the people of Iran. With his bold defence of freedom, equality and workers and peoples councils as an alternative to the current system of corruption, embezzlement and rip-off by the political and economic elite, he has brought hope to many. He is in prison for these brilliant struggles.
Esmaeil Bakhshi’s situation is perilous and critical. The Campaign to Free Jailed Workers in Iran (Free Them Now) calls on all workers’ trade unions and human rights organisations around the world to support the petition of Haft Tapeh sugar cane workers. We request that you put pressure on the Islamic Republic, demanding the unconditional release of Esmaeil Bakhshi, Speideh Gholyan and all political prisoners and an end to this system of torture in prisons and persecution of workers activists in Iran.
Campaign to Free Jailed Workers in Iran – Free Them Now!
Shahla.daneshfar2@gmail.com
15 March 2019