On 26th April 2019, a group of workers’ activists gathered in Jahan Nama Park in Karaj in Tehran province, Iran, to welcome May1s, International Workers Day, that was attacked by the police and security forces of the Islamic Republic. 12 people were arrested but later 8 were released but the others are still in custody:
Parvin Mohamadi, deputy director of independent union of workers in Iran
Valeh Zamani, member of syndicate of Alborz Painters
Alireza Saqafi, member of association of defenders of workers’ rights
Haleh Safarzadeh, member of association of defenders of workers’ rights
According to reports in other provinces some activists have been summoned or threatened.
In Urmieh in West Azerbaijan province, Ahmad Taqizadeh, Qaleb Hoseini, and Mozafar Saleh Nia, were summoned and interrogated by the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps. The workers were told not to attend May 1st ceremonies. However the activists said that it is their right to celebrate International Workers Day and they will go to ceremonies.
More recently, in Kamyaran in Kurdistan province, some of the members of builders’ association were summoned by the Intelligence Services of Islamic Republic and were told not to attend the ceremonies and that it will have consequences for them.
In response to the arrests and the intimidations and the threats, on 26th April 2019, several workers’ organisation have condemned the arrests and have called for a gathering in front of an assembly in front of Islamic parliament May 1st, International Workers Day at 10 am.
Campaign to Free Jailed Workers emphasises on the right to commemorate International Workers Day and calls on people of Iran to join the assembly.
Campaign to Free Jailed Workers voices the workers of Iran in the world. We calls on all international humanitarian and workers’ organisation to strongly condemn the arrests and the intimidations and to put pressure on the Islamic Republic to free all the jailed workers, including Esmaeil Bakhshi, Jafar Azimzadeh, Sepideh Ghlyian, and all the jailed teachers and political activists.
All the dissidents must be free immediately and unconditionally.
Long Live May 1st, International Workers Day
Campaign to Free Jailed Workers (Free Them Now)
Shahla.daneshfar2@gmail.com
April 27, 2019