Leaders of Haft Tapeh Workers’ Syndicate arrested

Labour activists fear more arrests

February 28, 2009 - According to the latest news form Iran, Mr. Reza Rakhshan, the Public Relations director of the Haft Tapeh Sugar Cane Company Workers’ Syndicate and a board member, was arrested on February 28, 2009. Mr. Rakshan was summoned to the intelligence office on February 28th and was immediately arrested upon his arrival there; later his home was raided by security forces and his belongings including some personal items and other items that belonged to the Syndicate as well as books and computer were confiscated.

A couple hours later in the evening of February 28^th, intelligence agents raided the residence of Mr. Ali Nejati, the president of the board of directors of the Syndicate, and searched his home and confiscated some documents related to the Syndicate. At that time, Mr. Nejati was not at home and the agents intimidated his children. Mr. Nejati subsequently contacted the intelligence office and he was told to go back to the intelligence office on Sunday, March 1^st which, as of this time, he has not gone there yet. 

Also, Mr. Rahim Boshagh, a member of the board of directors of the Haft Tapeh Workers’ Syndicate, was arrested on February 22, 2009 and he is still incarcerated.

There are fears of more arrests in next few days. These attacks are part of the government crack down on labour activists in Iran. In particular, Haft Tapeh Workers’ syndicate has been very active amongst workers, as the result of which workers of Haft Tapeh Sugar Cane Company refused to participate in the Islamic labour council’s election in the company.  The Islamic Labour Council is a government-sponsored and pro-employer instrument for controlling and repressing independent labour activities in the company. According to the Collaborating Council of Labour Organizations and Activists in Iran, in total only about 30 employees took part in the Islamic labour council’s election on February 22, 2009 despite more than five thousands employees in the company. That was considered a complete defeat of these repressive forces.

In addition five members of the board of directors of the Haft Tapeh Workers’ Syndicate, including Mr. Nejati, were put on trial on February 17^th and 23^rd and are still waiting for their verdict. Most arrested and persecuted workers have been charged with "acting against national security", which is an allegation used frequently by the Islamic Republic of Iran against labour and social activists.

International Alliance in Support of Workers in Iran

Please Send Urgent Protest Letters: (Updated March 1, 2009)

Free leaders of Haft Tapeh Workers’ Syndicate

I am writing to strongly protest against the arrests of Reza Rakshan, public relations director and a board member, and Rahim Boshagh, board member, of the Haft Tapeh Sugar Cane Company Workers’ Syndicate. Reza Rakhshan was arrested on February 28, 2009 and Mr. Boshagh was arrested on February 22, 2009.

In addition, in the evening of February 28^th, intelligence agents raided the residence of Mr. Ali Nejati, the president of the board of directors of the Syndicate, and searched his home and confiscated some documents related to the Syndicate.  Also, five board members of the Haft Tapeh syndicate, including Mr. Nejati, were put on trial on February 17^th and 23^rd and have been waiting for the court verdict.  There are fears of more arrests in next few days.

I condemn all these arrests and repression of labour activists and organizations in Iran and demand the immediate and unconditional freedom of all incarcerated labour activists including the above workers as well as Mansour Osanloo, Ebrahim Madadi, Farzad Kamangar, Pedram Nasrolahi, Salam Ghaderi, Khaled Asadi, Azad Hosseini and Borhan Saeedi.

I also ask the Iranian government to respect workers’ rights to organize, assemble and strike, put an end to persecution of labour activists and not to interfere in the affairs of independent workers’ organizations.

Name

Organization

Position

Send Copy of your Protest Letters to:

info@leader.ir, dr-ahmadinejad@president.ir, info@judiciary.ir; iran@un.int; ijpr@iranjudiciary.org,info@dadiran.ir,office@justice.ir 

CC: info@workers-iran.org 

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LabourStart Act NOW!
Iran: Drop charges against jailed union leaders

http://www.labourstart.org/cgi-bin/solidarityforever/show_campaign.cgi?c=468

For more information, contact info@workers-iran.org or alliance@workers-iran.org

International Alliance in Support of Workers in Iran (IASWI)

www.workers-iran.org