June 2025
From: Free Them Now! Campaign to free jailed workers in Iran
To: Mr Gilbert F. Houngbo, Director-General of the International Labour Organization
Why has the International Labour Organization remained silent about the systematic violations of workers’ and people’s rights in Iran?
Why does the ILO accept representatives of a murderous anti-labor dictatorship as its member?
Dear Mr Houngbo
You must be well aware that the foundations of this regime are built upon the execution and massacre of workers and the people. The widespread wave of executions—including the execution of children—the orchestration of terrorism internationally, the recent deadly explosion at Rajaei Shahr port which killed dozens, ongoing disasters in mines and workplaces including the killing of 53 miners in Tabas, the missile strike on the Ukrainian passenger plane in January 2020 that killed 177 passengers, the killing of 1,500 people during the November 2019 popular uprising, and the murder of hundreds during the “Woman, Life, Freedom” uprising are just a few of the regime’s crimes.
On September 2, 2020, Amnesty International released a shocking report titled “Trampling Humanity: Mass Arrests, Disappearances and Torture Since Iran’s 2019 November Protests” that details arrests, torture, forced confessions, enforced disappearances, and sexual assaults of detainees.
During the “Woman, Life, Freedom” uprising in September 2022, the regime confronted the people with brutal repression and murder, killing over 500 individuals, arresting tens of thousands, and blinding hundreds by direct gunfire to one or both eyes. The United Nations fact-finding mission also accused the Islamic Republic of serious human rights violations during and after these protests—such as murder, imprisonment, torture, rape, enforced disappearance, and sexual violence—all of which amount to crimes against humanity.
After the suppression of street protests, the regime intensified its repression and crimes. In the past year alone, at least 975 people were executed. Many more are currently on death row, including prominent figures such as labor activist Abbas Deris, women’s rights activist Sharifeh Mohammadi, and other protestors like Pakhshan Azizi and Verisheh Moradi.
Prisoners are subjected to “silent execution” through denial of medical treatment or forced administration of psychiatric drugs. The crimes of the Islamic Republic are countless, and the examples cited here are only a glimpse of its brutality.
A recent case is the deadly explosion in Rajaei Shahr Port, which resulted in dozens being burned alive and 1,242 people injured—a tragedy for which the regime was primarily responsible.
In June 2024, Amnesty International declared that gender apartheid should be recognized as a crime under international law, in an effort to strengthen actions against regimes that enforce systematic gender discrimination. This statement echoes the global impact of the “Woman, Life, Freedom” revolution.
Moreover, the Islamic Republic has violated ILO conventions on the right to strike, protest, assemble, and engage in collective bargaining—rights for which Iranian workers must continually fight.
Currently, more than 35 prominent labor and teacher activists, along with many political prisoners, remain in prison. Many others have been sentenced and may be summoned for enforcement at any time. These activists and their families are facing dire financial conditions.
Mr Gilbert F. Houngbo!
The list of crimes committed by the Islamic Republic is extensive. Each of the mentioned cases alone is enough reason to sanction such a regime. The people of Iran demand the full expulsion of the Islamic Republic for all of its crimes and the prosecution of its leaders.
Are you aware—and we workers have repeatedly shouted—that the so-called “Workers’ House” officials who represent Iran in the ILO have directly participated in the murder and repression of workers and are themselves criminal agents of the Islamic Republic?
The tragic reality is that despite these horrific crackdowns and executions, the Islamic Republic remains a member of the ILO.
Given that the ILO annual conference is currently underway, we raise these questions to you and your assembly. Iranian labor activists and protesters have sent these demands via letters and statements to the ILO—yet no step has been taken to stop these crimes. .
With such a criminal record, the Islamic regime cannot and must not be a member of the International Labour Organization. Due to its daily crimes against workers, it must be expelled from this organization. The Islamic Republic must be boycotted globally and removed from the ILO.
Hear the voice of Iranian workers and people.
Shahla Daneshfar – Spokesperson of Free Them Now
[Shahla.daneshfar2@gmail.com
Kazem Nik-khah – Head of the International Relations Coordinator