Stop arresting workers in Iran!
45 arrests during May1st, International Workers Day
In the run-up to May1st, the Islamic Republic arrested several workers and interrogated some so that they don’t celebrate International Workers Day. Despite the threats and extensive intimidations, the workers` organisations declared that May1st is workers` day and it is their undeniable right to hold assemblies and gather to celebrate the day.
On May 1st, a large gathering of workers, teachers, retirees and students was held in front of the Islamic Majles (parliament) in Tehran. The participants raised banners against discrimination, inequality and the system of capitalism and its oppressions along with pictures of some of their jailed leaders and comrades: Esmaeil Bakhshi, Sepideh Gholyian, Jafar Azimzadeh, Akram Nasiryan, and other social activists.
The footage of assembly and the brutal attack on the workers are being widely shared online but still the Islamic Republic tries to justify the oppression by their typical propaganda and misinformation which are also used as part of the conspiracy and making criminal cases against the workers. The oppressive forces of the Islamic regime attacked the protest and arrested 45 of the workers, students and retirees. Some of Them were released later. Rest of them are still in jail. Here are names of some of the arrested May Day arrestees:
Nahid Khodajoo, Davood Rafie, Reza Shahabi, Hosein Saidi, Farhad Sheikhi, Vahid Fereidooni, Nasrin Javadi, Naser Moharamzadeh, Rasool Taleb Moghadam, Asadollah Soleimani, Mohamadali Aslani, Mardas Taheri, Mohsen Soleimaninejhad, Hadi Soleimani, Mehdi Azimi, Ghasem Khaooie, Keyvan Samimi, Hadi Soleimani, Mehdi Fakhri, Marzieh Amiri, Samira Amiri, Khorsandi, Hosein Moradi, Ali Merikhi, Mohsen Haes, Said Rezaei, Akbar Jamshidi, Hamid Salimi, Shima Vijheh, Hosna Vijheh, Abas Shams, Atefeh Rangoriz, Samaneh Taheri, Leila Naservandi, Azam Khezri, Zahra Tehranizadeh, Hamid Salimi, …
Families of the arrested dissidents gathered in front of Evin prison and demanded release of their loved ones. On May 2nd, the arrested women, Marzieh Amiri, Nahid Khodajoo, and Nasrin Khazari were transferred to Intelligence Services of Revolutionary Guard Corps. The other arrested female workers were transferred to notorious Gharchak prison. They have told that Nahid Khodajo will be freed on 500 milion toman bail. Farhad Shaikhi and Hadi SOlimani may be freed on bail also.
Reza Shahabi and Hasan Saidi of Syndicate of Workers of Tehran and Suburbs Bus Company have been transferred to section 209 of Evin prison, and Vahid Fereidooni, explled bus driver and a memebr of the syndicate, is in another prison. His family have been told that he may be freed on bail but his whereabouts and the amount of bail has not been announced.
Besides those who arrested on May Day, On 26th April, a group of workers who had gathered in a park in Tehran to welcome May Day were attacked by security forces and some of them are still in custody: Parvin Moghamadi – the Deputy Leader of Independent Workers’ Union of Iran, and Haleh Safarzadeh and Alireza Saghafi – of Children’s Right Association, are still in custody.
On 29th April, Akram Nasinian, a women’s right activist from Voice of Women (Nedaye Zanan) who is a teacher and volunteer for victims of the flood, was arrested too.
On May 2nd, the assembly of teachers and retirees was attacked in Tehran and at least 8 people were arrested. Two of hem were released later that day but the rest are still in custody including Mr Rasool Badaghi member of Teachers Association executive.
Campaign to Free Jailed Workers in Iran (FTN) calls on all the international workers` and human rights` organisations to strongly condemn the arrests and demand immediate and unconditional release of all the arrested activists.
Free Them Now! Campaign to Free Jailed Workers in Iran
Shahla.daneshfar2@gmail.com
https://free-them-now.com
May 5,2019