Free Them Now (FTN), the campaign to free jailed workers in Iran, carries out a series of routine activities, including:
One of Free Them Now’s key campaigns is the effort to expel the Islamic Republic of Iran from the ILO, due to its crimes and extremely inhumane policies against workers and the people. We have made significant progress in this campaign and have successfully gained the support of several labor unions and international campaigners.
- In the same context, a request from 34 organizations and networks of opponents of the Islamic Republic abroad has been launched this March, calling for global action against the state terrorism of the Islamic Republic. This follows recent confessions by Mohsen Rafiqdoost regarding the regime’s assassination of its opponents. Free Them Now is one of the signatories of this letter.
Free Them Now is pleased to have established an active relationship with the CUPE union and sincerely appreciates your unwavering support. CUPE has played a crucial role in supporting Free Them Now’s campaign to expel the Islamic Republic from the ILO.
A summary of these activities can be found below:
1-Weekly TV Program Broadcast (Workers and a Better World)
This program features coverage of labor protests, discussions, and exposés on the situation of imprisoned workers and teachers, calls for labor struggles in Iran and other countries, and similar topics. The program has received widespread attention from workers and has enabled us to connect with labor movement and the families of imprisoned workers.
Link to the latest Free Them Now TV program on the NCTV:
https://kanaljadid.com/category/kargaran-va-yek-donyaye-behtar/
2- Coverage of Arrests and Security Pressures
Free Them Now monitors and reports on the arrests and security pressures faced by various labor sectors, including workers, teachers, retirees, nurses, and activists defending the rights of child laborers. Additionally, it shares news of labor protests with labor unions and humanitarian organizations to seek their support and solidarity. These reports are published on the Free Them Now website and directly posted on the international labor news platform, LabourStart.
A list of imprisoned workers and teachers, along with their photos, is attached.
3- Participation in International Women’s Day Actions
Free Them Now activists took part in International Women’s Day actions to support the Woman, Life, Freedom Revolution, to oppose executions, and to call for the release of three imprisoned women activists:
- Sharifeh Mohammadi
- Pakhshan Azizi
- Verisheh Moradi
4- Meeting with the Italian General Confederation of Labour (CGIL) on the World Day Against the Death Penalty
On October 10, World Day Against the Death Penalty, Free Them Now representatives met with the Italian General Confederation of Labour (CGIL) in Rome. During this meeting, our delegation introduced Free Them Now and its supported campaigns, including:
- The Global Campaign Against Executions
- No to Executions Tuesdays
- The Global Network in Defense of Political and Conscientious Prisoners
- Joint Action to Stop Death Sentences Under the Pretext of Drug Offenses
We urged CGIL to continue supporting these campaigns, as well as imprisoned workers and political prisoners, labor struggles, the Iranian people’s movement, and the Woman, Life, Freedom Revolution.
Additionally, Free Them Now called on CGIL to:
- Support the families of the victims of the Tabas mine disaster
- Pressure the International Labour Organization (ILO) to expel the Islamic Republic due to its crimes
Outcome of the CGIL Meeting
Following this meeting, CGIL expressed its support in cases such as:
- The urgent case of four imprisoned workers:
- Nasrin Jowadi
- Nahid Khodajo
- Esmail Gerami (three retired workers)
- Abbas Deris (a worker sentenced to death)
- The Tabas coal miners’ case
CGIL reaffirmed its commitment to defending Iranian workers and imprisoned activists.
5- Campaign in Support of Tabas Coal Miners
Despite workers warning about the dangers in the mine, the employer forced them to descend under the threat of dismissal. As a result, an explosion in the mine on September 21, 2023, led to the tragic death of 53 workers.
In this regard several campaigns was launched in support of the miners and protesting the irresponsibility of the government and the employers. Free Them Now was one of the active participants in these campaigns. These campaigns gained the support of several labor unions in different countries including:
- BCGEU (Canada)
- Maritime Union of Australia
- Five unions in France
- LO Sweden
- Nurses’ Union (Canada)
- EG Meatal Germany
- CGIL Italy
Additionally, Carlos Flores, Secretary of Local 50 of the Public Service Alliance in Victoria, Canada, expressed solidarity with the families of the deceased Tabas miners and workers in Iran.
6- Special Campaigns for Urgent Cases
- A special campaign focusing on three imprisoned retired workers who have been denied access to medicine and medical treatment, as well as Abbas Deris, a worker facing imminent execution.
- A special campaign in support of widespread protests among oil workers and nurses.
7- International Labor Solidarity for Imprisoned Workers and Teachers
In response to Free Them Now’s campaigns for the release of imprisoned workers and teachers, as well as emergency cases of prisoners deprived of medical care—that’ part of the Iranian regime’s crimes—numerous labor unions expressed their support.
Support letters were received from labor unions in:
- Italy
- Canada
- Switzerland
- Iraq
- France
- Education International (Global Teachers’ Union)
- Canadian Nurses’ Union
- Stephen Syhowski, General Secretary of the Vancouver and District Labour Council
- BCGEU (British Columbia Government and Service Employees’ Union)
- Saeed Naama, General Secretary of Iraqi Labor Unions
all addressed letters to Iranian authorities and the International Labour Organization (ILO), with copies sent to Free Them Now, demanding the release of prisoners and the protection of workers’ rights.
Both BCGEU and the Iraqi labor unions are signatories to the campaign for the expulsion of the Islamic Republic from the ILO and reaffirmed their stance in their support letters.
8- “Music for Iran” Campaign
The Music4Iran campaign was launched in support of the Woman, Life, Freedom Revolution byfree them now activists. In two phases, 50 musicians each donated the revenue from one of their songs to support Free Them Now, raising £3,000 for the campaign.
In the second round, the campaign focused on opposing executions and government repression, gaining the support of 90 music groups from the UK, US, and Canada.
9- Support for Labor Activists Forced to Leave Iran
Free Them Now provides regular assistance to labor activists who are sentenced to jail or forced to flee Iran due to security threats. This support includes:
- Prison expenses
- Legal fees
- Electronic ankle tag costs
- Financial assistance for the families of imprisoned workers
10- Membership in Anti-Death Penalty Campaigns
Free Them Now is a member of:
- The Global Campaign Against the Death Penalty
- The International Network for the Support of Political Prisoners
- One of 84 organizations involved in joint action against death sentences related to drug offenses
FTN actively participates in joint actions organized by these campaigns.
11- Protest Actions Organized or Participated in by Free Them Now
An essential part of FTN’s work involves organizing and participating in protests abroad. Some examples include:
12- Participation in the July 20 Protests
FTN activists took part in protests on July 20, opposing executions and government repression and calling for the release of political prisoners.
13- Protest in front of the ILO conference in Geneva
Every year, FTN organizes a campaign and action in protest against the presence of representatives of the Islamic Republic at the International Labour Organization (ILO) conference. It emphasizes the expulsion of this regime from the ILO due to its violation of the most basic rights of workers and the people, despite ILO conventions.
14- Participation in July 20, 2024 Protest Against Executions
FTN activists took part in protests on July 20, 2024 against executions carried out by the regime.
15– FTN participated in the June 20 protests, which marks the International Day of Solidarity with Political Prisoners.
16- Participation in May Day Protests with posters and banners of Imprisoned Workers
17- FTN activists took part in calls to action and protests as part of the Global Campaign Against the Death Penalty in various countries.
18- Following the intensification of executions and government repression, a joint delegation composed of representatives from the International Committee Against the Death Penalty, the Woman’s Rights Organization, and the Women’s Revolution Movement met with officials from the Swedish Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
A key topic discussed during the meeting was the boycott of the Islamic Republic and the abolition of gender apartheid as a crime against humanity.
In this meeting letters from Free Them Now submitted to the Swedish Foreign Minister
Attached to this report, you will find a video showing scenes from some of these activities.
Shahla Daneshfar
March 2025: Highlights of the one-year activities of the Free Them Now Organization.