The Islamic Republic’s judiciary has summoned seven gold-mine workers of Aq Dareh to serve their prison sentences. Dariush Nikzad is one of the workers who was arrested on 12 June 2020, the day before his wedding, but then the local people collected 50 million Rials ($713 USD) to pay for his release. Behzad Momeni has also had his prison sentence revoked by paying the money.
Now, five other workers, Khalil Aftabi, Sadoun Aftabi, Salah Aftabi, Khalil Iranpour, and Ismail Teimouri, have been summoned to serve their prison sentences and are forced to flee. The persecution of these workers must be stopped immediately and the sentences against them must be revoked.
The workers’ prison sentences are related to their gathering in front of the mine in 2017. During the protest, a number of workers were arrested, seven of whom were sentenced to between 7 and 21 months in prison or fined 50 million Rials ($713 USD).
In spring of every year, the workers of the Aq Dareh mine face job-losses, and this has been one of the main reasons for the protest. In addition, the workers object to temporary employment contracts, the delay in the payment of wages, low wages, the lack of safety at workplace, and the destructive impact of the mine on the environment.
It should be noted that 2014, in protest to the situation, miners along with some villagers gathered in front of the mine. 17 workers were arrested and sentenced to flogging and imprisonment. In June 2016, the brutal sentences of flogging were carried out against three workers in public, and as a result there wes a wave of dismay and protest amongst the workers, and the news was reflected worldwide. Many trade unions, such as the Confederation of Trade Unions, strongly condemned the Islamic regime’s brutal act. Today, the summoning of seven workers from Aq Dareh gold mine to serve their prison sentences is continuing, and it must face a widespread protest.
The campaign to Free Jailed Workers expects all international workers’ organisations and human rights organisations to condemn the sentences against the workers of the Aq Dareh gold-mine and the escalation of pressure and repression of workers’ leaders and activists by the Islamic Republic of Iran. Also, to put pressure on International Labour Organisation to end its appeasement of the Islamic Republic and expel this anti-worker regime from ILO for its violation of the most basic workers’ rights. And once again, decisively stand for the abolition of flogging, the heinous Islamic punishment in Iran.
Free Them Now
June 18,2020