Stop arresting workers in Iran!
In the run-up to May1st, the Islamic Republic arrested several workers and interrogated some, so that they don’t celebrate International Workers Day. Despite the threats and extensive intimidations, the workers` organisations declared that May1st is workers` day and it is their undeniable right to hold assemblies and to celebrate the day.
On May 1st, a large gathering of workers, teachers, retirees and students was held in front of the Islamic Majles (parliament) in Tehran. The participants raised banners against discrimination, inequality and the system of capitalism and its oppressions along with pictures of some of their jailed leaders and comrades: Esmaeil Bakhshi, Sepideh Gholyian, Jafar Azimzadeh, Akram Nasiryan, and other activists.
The footage of the assembly and the brutal attack against the workers are being widely shared online but still the Islamic Republic tries to justify the oppression with their typical propaganda and misinformation which are also used as a part of making conspiracy and criminal cases against the workers. The oppressive forces of the Islamic regime attacked the protest and arrested 45 of the workers, students and retirees. Some of Them were released later but the rest of them are still in jail:
Nahid Khodajoo, Farhad Sheikhi, Hasan Saidi, Nasrin Javadi, Keyvan Samimi, Marzieh Amiri, Atefeh Rangoriz, Neda Naji.
Nahid Khodajo has been told that she will be freed on 5000000000 Rial (120,000 USD) bail, but he has protested and refused. She knows that accepting the bail means that the authorities can rearrest her any time they want.
On 29th April, Akram Nasinian, a women’s right activist from Voice of Women (Neda-ye Zanan) who is a teacher and volunteer for victims of the flood, was also arrested.
Campaign to Free Jailed Workers in Iran (FTN) calls on all the international workers` and human rights organisations to strongly condemn the arrests and demand immediate and unconditional release of all the arrested activists and workers.
Free Them Now! (Campaign to Free Jailed Workers in Iran)
Shahla.daneshfar2@gmail.com
May 9,2019