Sepideh Qoliyan, a young journalist and supporter of the Haft Tappeh sugarcane workers, has been convicted to 5 years jail and she is in prison since July 21, 2020. She was arrested and imprisoned based on a complaint case filed by Asad Beygi the former employer of Haft Tappeh Sugar Cane Company who is now been convicted and dismissed from Haft Tappeh company. Sepideh’s so called crime is defending the struggles of the Haft Tappeh sugarcane workers and republishing the news of the workers’ protests. Under the pressure of widespread protests and a global campaign, the Haft Tappeh sugarcane detainees and their supporters, including Ismail Bakhshi, the popular representative of these workers, were released in November 1998, and then the judiciary was forced to withdraw and the sentences were “pardoned”. However, Sepideh Qoliyan’s five years jail sentence remained in place and she was arrested and imprisoned and is still in jail. The latest news is that on this Iranian new year’s eve (March 21) she was deported to Bushehr city Prison, which is very far from where her family lives.Now, the court of the Islamic Republic has issued an dismissal order for Asad Beigi. That is, the person behind the arrest and imprisonment of Sepideh Qoliyan has been found guilty by the judiciary and has been expelled from the Haft Tappeh Sugar Company, but he is free. However the security case of this person against the workers and specifically against Sepideh Qoliyan, who supported the Haft Tappeh sugarcane workers, has not been cancelled and Sepideh is still in prison.Free Them Now (Campaign to free all jailed workers in Iran) calls for the immediate release of Sepideh Qoliyan, a supporter of the Haft Tappeh sugarcane workers, and calls on all trade unions and all workers to support this demand. From our point of view and from the point of view of the workers and the people, supporting the Haft Tappeh sugarcane workers is not a crime but it is an honor. Sepideh Qoliyan has not committed any crime. Rather, he defended the just demands and struggles of the Haft Tappeh sugarcane workers. These days after dismissal of Asadbeygi from Haft Tappeh Company, the workers thanked their supporters, specially Sepideh Qolyan, and greeted her as they celebrated the victory over Asadbeigi. Today, it is time to demand the immediate and unconditional release of Sepideh with a louder voice than ever.Free Them Now is trying to make her voice heard around the world and expects all international labour organizations and all workers unions to support Sepideh Qolyan’s immediate release and the closure of her security case.Sepideh Qoliyan, imprisoned workers and imprisoned teachers, and all political prisoners must be released immediately and unconditionally!Free Them Now! Campaign to free jailed workers in Iran (Free Them Now)
11/05/2021
Shahla.daneshfar2@gmail.com,