Ismail Gerami is a pensioner worker who has been in prison since April 2021, for participating in the protest rallies of retirees to pursue their demands. In a letter sent from Greater Tehran prison on December 27, he protested against the unjust ruling by the Revolutionary Islamic Court and called on all workers, retirees, international organisations and trade unions to support him and be his voice. A part of Ismail Gerami’s letter reads: “I, Ismail Gerami, a retired worker in a cardboard factory, demanded pay rise for pensioners in accordance with the law, and participated in the legal gatherings of retirees, was found guilty by the laws of the Islamic Republic of Iran and sentenced to 4 years in prison. I have been living in the “Greater Tehran Prison” for 9 months now. Where in the world is a 66-year-old retiree suffering from epilepsy, prostate problem, back pain and toothache, is treated like this? Should participating in gatherings considered a crime and punishable by imprisonment?”
The arrest of Ismail Gerami in April this year and the issuance of 6 years of prison sentence and flogging for him, was faced with widespread protests among retirees and various sections of the workers and teachers, and a nationwide campaign has been launched in support of him. His conviction was later reduced to 4 years jail.
In response to the call of Ismail Gerami, Free Them Now (FTN) is sending you the full text of his letter, and we look forward to receive your urgent support for him, and condemnation of the Islamic regime for violating the most basic rights of the workers and citizens in Iran.
Free Them Now (FTN)
Shahla Danehsfar, spokesperson
January 1, 2022
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Attachment: Ismail Gerami’s Leter:
An open letter from a retiree
I, Ismail Gerami, a retired worker in a cardboard factory, demanded pay rise for pensioners in accordance with the law, and participated in the legal gatherings of retirees, was found guilty by the laws of the Islamic Republic of Iran and sentenced to 4 years in prison. I have been living in the “Greater Tehran Prison” for 9 months now. Where in the world is a 66-year-old retiree suffering from epilepsy, prostate problem, back pain and toothache is treated like this? Should participating in gatherings considered a crime and punishable by imprisonment?
The Islamic Republic of Iran is treating a retiree in this way, while his claims about defending the human rights, deafens peoples’ ears around the world.
The “Greater Tehran Prison” where I am imprisoned in, is an example of an Iranian prison that has no drinking water and a prisoner has to buy it himself. It is even very low quality in terms of food! In some cases, the prisoner has to buy raw material and cook himself.
In “Greater Tehran Prison” there is not even hot water suitable for bathing.
I Ismail Gerami, have been the voice of retirees and I expect all retirees, colleagues, friends, and acquaintances to be my voice, and translate this letter into any language they can and translate it for the unions of different countries as well as the human rights organization, so that the world would know that the claims of respect for human rights by the Islamic regime of Iran is nothing but a lie.
Esmaeil Gerami _Retired worker, Greater Tehran Prison
27 December 2021