On June 6 and 7, two protest rallies held against the presence of the Islamic regime at the 113th International Labour Conference (ILO). Free Them Now the Campaign to Free jailed Workers in Iran participated in both protests.
June 6
The first protest rally, held on June 6, was organized by the “National Committee for Organizing the Protest Rally in Geneva” and supported by the Free Them Now. Representatives from various labor unions in Sweden, Germany, Belgium, Switzerland, and France also expressed their support for this protest.
Dozens of people attended this protest action. The first part of the program, held in English, included solidarity messages from union representatives condemning the presence of the Islamic Republic’s delegation at the conference. Speakers voiced their support for Iranian workers and people’s protests and called for the immediate release of imprisoned workers and activists.
Another part of the program featured letters and protest messages from inside Iran, including a joint statement by nine labor and social organizations, another joint statement from four labor groups, and messages from protesting teachers and workers such as Reza Shahabi, Ali Nejati, and Esmail Abdi.
The next segment, in Persian, included speeches from various political organizations. Shahla Daneshfar, spokesperson for the Free Them Now, and Kazem Nikkhah, the head of the international relations of Free Them Now, emphasized Iran’s political situation and called for the expulsion of the Islamic regime from the ILO and its global boycott. They denounced the regime as a misogynistic, criminal, and execution-driven apartheid system.
Following them, Nasser Keshkuli from the Worker-communist Party of Iran, Behnam Ebrahimzadeh (former political prisoner and worker activist), Abbas Mandegar a member of Free Them Now, and other representatives from political organizations delivered speeches. A unifying theme among all speeches was condemnation of the Islamic regime’s presence at the conference, demand for the release of all political prisoners, and an end to executions.
Representatives from trade unions participating in the ILO conference from countries such as India, Cuba, and Pakistan also joined the protest and expressed solidarity.
The June 6 rally concluded with a resolution. Its first clause stated:
“The Islamic Republic’s delegation at the ILO conference is composed entirely of regime agents and officials. Iranian workers have no representative at this conference. We condemn the ILO’s recognition of this delegation as representatives of Iran’s workers.”
The resolution emphasized fundamental labor rights, including the right to organize, strike, and collective bargaining, as well as the abolition of privatization and temporary contracts, the dismantling of subcontracting companies, and increasing wages above the poverty line. It also demanded an end to gender apartheid in the workplace and the repeal of all discriminatory laws based on gender, ethnicity, and religion. It highlighted the rights of migrant workers in Iran and called for a ban on child labor.
A major point in the resolution was the unconditional and immediate release of all political prisoners—especially jailed workers and teachers—and the abolition of torture, the death penalty, and death sentences such as that issued against Sharifeh Mohammadi. The full text of the resolution has been published on social media.
June 7
The second protest rally was held on June 7, in front of the ILO conference venue, organized by the *Campaign to Free Imprisoned Workers (Free Them Now)*. Shiva Rashidi and Abbas Mandegar hosted the rally. Images of imprisoned workers, teachers, and persecuted activists such as Sharifeh Mohammadi, Abbas Drees, Kiomars Fallah, Pakhshan Azizi, and Verisheh Moradi—some of whom are under death sentence—were prominently displayed.
Speakers included Shahla Daneshfar (spokesperson of the campaign’s coordinators), Kazem Nikkhah (international relations coordinator), Behnam Ebrahimzadeh (former political prisoner and labor activist), Hashem Fazeli (member of the International Network in Support of Political Prisoners), Arash Vaseli (Free Them Now collaborator), Nasser Keshkuli (representing the Worker-communist Party), Anahid (from the union ONIA), and Taha Azadi (journalist with New Channel TV). They delivered passionate speeches.
Key themes in the speeches included:
* Condemnation of the Islamic Republic’s presence and membership in the ILO
* Demands for the regime’s expulsion and global boycott
* Support for the nationwide truck drivers’ strike and the release of over 40 arrested drivers
* Endorsement of the “No to Executions Tuesdays” campaign
* Solidarity with the people of Bandar Abbas
A prominent banner at the protest read: “The Islamic regime Must Be Expelled from the ILO.”
Hashem Fazeli gave a brief speech reporting on a meeting between a delegation from Free Them Now and the Free Political Prisoners’ Committee *—composed of himself, Behnam Fazeli, and Abbas Mandegar—and the UN Human Rights Council. He stated that protest letters detailing the Islamic regime’s crimes and violations of workers’ and people’s basic rights were submitted, emphasizing that representatives of such a regime have no place in the ILO.
This protest drew attention from people in the area. A union representative from Nigeria and human rights activists from Pakistan joined the rally and voiced their support in short messages.
The rally concluded with strong calls to expel the Islamic regime from the ILO, stressing that the regime belongs not in international organizations but before a tribunal. Protesters marked June 20 – the International Day in Support of Political Prisoners, expressed solidarity with all political detainees, and ended the event by recording a group video in front of the UN headquarters, chanting:
“Down with Islamic regime of Iran!”
“Expel the Islamic Republic from the ILO!”
“Free all political prisoners!”
Free Them Now
June 7, 2025*
Shahla.daneshfar2@gmail.com