Reza Shahabi sends a New Year message of thanks from his prison ward

To workers and workers' Organizations throughout the world!

On the occasion of the coming New Year, year 2011, I would like to extend my congratulations to all my beloved co-workers and fellow-workers throughout the world.

While me and my fellow workers have been incarcerated due to our advocacy of workers' rights in Iran, and because of our demands for creation of independent workers' organizations in Iran, many workers' organizations throughout the world have rallied in our support, and have condemned the treatment we have received in jail.

Also, while I was on my hunger strike, I received a multitude of support from workers and their organizations throughout the world. I would like to acknowledge and thank all of you for your messages of solidarity.

Hopefully through our solidarity we shall be able to overcome all obstacles in achieving our goals of justice, freedom and equality, and through our daily efforts transcend Capitalism and achieve what rightly belongs to us.

I wish for a day when all of us will be able to live a decent and humane life, without any wars or violence.

In the end I wish all of you a happy New Near, full of success, health and unity. I warmly shake all your hands

Reza Shahabi

Incarcerated Worker

Ward 209, Evin Prison, Tehran

December 26, 2010

5^th of Day, 1389

Translated by International Alliance in Support of Workers in Iran (IASWI)

info@workers-iran.org 

www.workers-iran.org

Iran: Call for urgent action as jailed labour activist Behnam Ebrahim-zadeh is charged with ‘waging war against God’

In an open letter to labour and human rights organisations and people of the world (see full text below), the parents of jailed labour activist Behnam Ebrahim-zadeh raise the alarm about grave allegations by the judicial authorities in Iran against their son, which if upheld could carry the death penalty.

The parents of Behnam (Asad) were informed this week by their son’s lawyer that Behnam has been accused of association with a banned opposition group and of having committed Moharebeh, literally ‘waging war against God’. Moharebeh is the usual charge by the regime in Iran against political dissidents, whom it intends to eliminate.

Behnam (Asad) Ebrahim-zadeh is a worker employed at a polyethylene pipes manufacturing company near Tehran. He is a labour and human rights activist. He was arrested on 12 June 2010 and is being detained at Evin Prison. He was beaten up during his arrest, and as a result suffered injuries to his leg and rib cage. Behnam had a court hearing on 13 December, at which he is reported to have been accused of affiliation to an opposition organisation and of Moharebeh. He has been refused bail.

There are grave concerns over Behnam’s life and safety. If these allegations are enforced and upheld, he will face execution. Thousands of political prisoners and dissident activists have been executed in this way in Iran, the latest case being that of 62-year old Ali Saremi, a political prisoner, who was executed on 28^th December for Moharebeh.

We must act swiftly to save Behnam:

• Please publish the letter by Behnam’s parents and spread the news as widely as you can
• Send letters of protest (see below for sample letter) to:
  
  Sadegh Larijani - Head of the Judiciary of the Islamic Republic of Iran
  Email: info@dadiran.ir
  
  Mahmoud Ahmadinejad – President of the Islamic Republic of Iran
  Email: via website: http://cp.president.ir/en/
  
  Ali Khamenei – Leader of the Islamic Republic of Iran
  Email: via website: http://www.leader.ir/langs/en/index.php?p=letter  (English)
  http://www.leader.ir/langs/fa/index.php?p=letter  (Persian)

• Sign the petition to free jailed workers: http://workersiniran.org/jworkers/

• Let us know of any actions you are organising in your area

Letter by parents of jailed worker Asad Ebrahim-zadeh, charged with ‘waging war against God’

To people and labour organisations around the world

We are the parents of jailed worker Asad (Behnam) Ebrahim-zadeh. We send you our regards, and also our greetings on the arrival of the New Year. We are grateful to you all for supporting our son, Asad, and other jailed workers. However, unfortunately this job is not yet done. Our Asad is still in prison.

Asad was arrested on 12 June 2010 and has been in jail for nearly seven months. His only crime is supporting workers’ rights, children’s rights and human rights. He was once set a bail of 100 million Toman (US$96,000), which we finally managed to secure with great difficulty. However, this was refused with the excuse that it was [based on assets] from the provinces [not the capital, Tehran]. Thus Asad was kept in prison.

In protest against his detention and his maltreatment, Asad went on hunger strike for two weeks [in late September] which resulted in a stomach bleeding. He was then transferred from Ward 209 of Evin Prison [run by the Intelligence Ministry] to General Ward 350, pending trial. He was tried on 13 December. However, we have now been informed by our son’s lawyer that Asad has been accused of working with [the banned] People’s Mujahedeen Organisation and of Moharebeh [‘waging war against God’]. This is a frame-up; these are all pure lies; Asad’s only crime is defending people’s rights. These accusations are intended to hand him a severe sentence. That’s why we are extremely worried about him; we are worried about his life. Asad must be released, along with all jailed workers.

We ask all workers and humanitarian people of the world to do all they can to help us get Asad released. Asad’s life is in danger. Help us get him released and save him.

Ayisha Modarresi (Asad’s mother)

Rahman Ebrahim-zadeh (Asad’s father)

27 December 2010

Reproduced and disseminated by Sadegh Amiri, former member of the Follow-up Committee to Form Free Workers’ Organisations

SAMPLE LETTER to send to the Islamic Republic authorities

[

Date]

Dear Mr …

[Sadegh Larijani, Head of the Judiciary of the Islamic Republic of Iran]
[Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, President of the Islamic Republic of Iran]
[Ali Khamenei, Leader of the Islamic Republic of Iran]

Re Mr Behnam (Asad) Ebrahim-zadeh, Iran

I am writing to protest in the strongest possible terms at the arbitrary arrest and detention of labour and human rights activist Mr Behnam Ebrahim-zadeh.

Mr Ebrahim-zadeh was arrested on 12 June 2010, and for months his whereabouts were unknown, despite repeated, anxious enquiries by members of his family. However, when Behnam’s family finally were able to make contact with him, they learnt that he was being held in the notorious Evin Prison in Tehran and that during his arrest he had been badly beaten up, as a result of which he had suffered serious injuries to his rib cage and leg.

Given Mr Ebrahim-zadeh’s labour and human rights activities, it is clear that Mr Ebrahim-zadeh is being detained solely for his labour and human rights’ activities – i.e. the same reason for which trade unionists such as Mansoor Osanloo, Ebrahim Madadi and Reza Shahabi, and countless others before them, have been put in prison by your government.

In October, following a hunger strike in protest against his continued detention and maltreatment, Mr Ebrahim-zadeh was admitted to Evin Prison’s clinic with a bleeding stomach. He finally agreed to end his strike at the request of his family, when his condition had become critical.

Furthermore, we have now been informed by the parents of Mr Ebrahim-zadeh that following a court hearing on 13 December, Behnam is facing charges of association with an opposition organisation and of Moharebeh (‘waging war against God’), which his parents have described as pure fabrications.

Given the above, I wish to express my strongest protest against the detention of Mr Ebrahim-zadeh and my concerns about his health and safety in prison. I call on your government to immediately and unconditionally release Mr Ebrahim-zadeh and all the other jailed workers, including Mansoor Osanloo, Reza Shahabi, Ebrahim Madadi and Gholamreza Gholamhosseini.

Please be assured that I and my organisation are following this case closely, and will take any necessary publicity and lobbying actions in order to secure Mr Ebrahim-zadeh’s and other jailed activists’ safe release.

Yours faithfully,


[Name, position, organisation]

Iran: Jailed trade unionists Komsari and Nazari released

Two jailed members of Tehran's bus workers' union, namely, Morteza Komsari and Ali Akbar Nazari, were released on bail yesterday, Wednesday, according to the Union of Workers of Tehran and Suburbs United (Vahed) Bus Company. The two activists were being held without charge at Evin and Ghezel Hesar prisons since 23rd and 30th November 2010, respectively.

Four other leading members of the bus workers’ union, namely Reza Shahabi, Mansoor Ossanlou, Ebrahim Madadi and Gholamreza Gholamhosseini, and labour and human rights activist Behnam Ebrahim-zadeh, continue to be imprisoned. They are all being held solely for their labour activities. The campaign for the release of all five and for an end to worker persecutions in Iran continues. To sign the petition, please click here.

Hunger-striking Reza Shahabi starts to drink water

Jailed trade union leader Reza Shahabi who has been on hunger strike since Saturday 4th December, is reported to have started to drink water. The news comes from Reza's brother, Hasan Shahabi, who was speaking on Sunday to US-based Farsi-language radio station, Radio Farda. Reza reportedly agreed to end his dry hunger strike after a plea by a number of labour and other activists in Iran. According to Hasan Shahabi, Reza was transferred to the prison's clinic on Saturday.

The campaign to free Shahabi and other jailed workers continues.

• Please publish and spread the news as widely as you can
• Sign the urgent email campaign by Amnesty here 
• And the petition to free jailed workers: http://workersiniran.org/jworkers/
• Let us know of any actions you are organising in your area

Reza Shahabi and all the jailed workers must be released immediatley and unconditionally!

Reza Shahabi’s condition reported as serious as family reach out to the world for support

Reza Shahabi, board member of Tehran’s bus workers’ union, has been in prison for the past six months without any charge. He is in prison for the sole reason of his union activities, for defending workers’ rights. In protest against his detention and condition, Shahabi has started a hunger strike since Saturday 4 December, refusing even water. His family, who were able to visit him, have described his condition as serious. At the visit, Shahabi was reportedly unable even to walk to the glass cabinet and had to be helped along by his prison mates. In addition, due to his general weakness, in the past few days Reza has suffered a number of falls, resulting in bruises and a leg injury.

In an appeal to trade unions, human rights organisations and the world media (see below), the family of Reza Shahabi have called for urgent action to get Shahabi and his jailed colleagues released.

In addition to Reza Shahabi, currently Mansour Ossanlou, Ebrahim Madadi, Gholamreza Ghlolamhosseini, Morteza Komsari, Ali Akbar Nazari (all members of the Syndicate of Workers of Tehran and Suburbs Vahed Bus Company), as well as trade unionist and human rights activist Behnam Ebrahimzadeh are in jail in Iran.

The Free Them Now! Campaign emphatically supports the appeal by the family of Reza Shahabi and calls for urgent actions worldwide to get Reza Shahabi safely out of prison and secure the release of all the other jailed trade unionists.

•  Please publish and spread the news as widely as you can
• Sign the petition for the release of jailed workers: http://workersiniran.org/jworkers/
• Let us know of any actions you are organising in your area

10 December 2010

 

Free Them Now!

Campaign to Free Jailed Workers in Iran

http://free-them-now.blogspot.com/

Campaign co-ordinators:

Shahla Daneshfar (Shahla_Daneshfar@yahoo.com 0044-7779 898968)

Bahram Soroush (Bahram.Soroush@gmail.com 0044-7852 338334)

Letter by the family of jailed Iran unionist Reza Shahabi:

To workers, trade unions, human rights organisations and world media

As you are aware, Reza Shahabi, who is being detained in Ward 209 of Evin Prison [in Tehran, Iran], has been on a dry hunger strike since Saturday 4^th December. Given previous multiple medical conditions and the problems suffered during the six months that he has been in prison, his health is in serious danger.

Although a letter stating his release was issued on 11 October, and we have submitted a 600 million Rial [App. US$60,000] bail, while Reza himself has signed a bail pledge for 1 billion Rial [App. US$100,000], the two judicial authorities whom we have been referred to deny being in charge of Reza Shahabi’s case.

Reza Shahabi has been in jail for six months for defending workers’ rights. He is still in jail although his release letter was issued two months ago. And now his health is in serious danger, and we can’t think what further damage the dry hunger strike will do to him.

We hereby request all workers, trade unions, human rights organisations, the media and concerned people to do all they can for the release of Reza Shahabi, his jailed colleagues and all jailed workers.

Partner, brothers and family members of Reza Shahabi

Thursday 9 December 2010

[Translated from Farsi by Free Them Now! - Campaign to Free Jailed Workers in Iran  http://free-them-now.blogspot.com/]   

On hunger strike for one week: Reza Shahabi's family appeal for international support

Letter from Reza Shahabi’s family:

To workers, trade unions, human rights organisations and world media

As you are aware, Reza Shahabi, who is being detained in Ward 209 of Evin Prison [in Tehran, Iran], has been on a dry hunger strike since Saturday 4th December. Given previous multiple medical conditions and the problems suffered during the six months that he has been in prison, his health is in serious danger.

Although a letter stating his release was issued on 11 October, and we have submitted a 600 million Rial [App. US$60,000] bail, while Reza himself has signed a bail pledge for 1 billion Rial [App. US$100,000], the two judicial authorities whom we have been referred to deny being in charge of Reza Shahabi’s case.

Reza Shahabi has been in jail for six months for defending workers’ rights. He is still in jail although his release letter was issued two months ago. And now his health is in serious danger, and we can’t think what further damage the dry hunger strike will do to him.

We hereby request all workers, trade unions, human rights organisations, the media and concerned people to do all they can for the release of Reza Shahabi, his jailed colleagues and all jailed workers.

Partner, brothers and family members of Reza Shahabi

Thursday 9 December 2010

[Translated from Farsi by Free Them Now! Campaign to Free Jailed Workers in Iran  http://free-them-now.blogspot.com/]

Fear for life of jailed Iran unionist, Reza Shahabi, on 6th day of dry hunger strike

The condition of jailed board member of Tehran's bus workers' union is described as extremely serious as he nears the end of the 6th day of his dry hunger strike in protest against his continued detention. In a letter to the world's trade unions and human rights organisations, Shahabi's family have raised the alarm about his health, calling for urgent international action to force the Iranian authorities to release him immediately. Shahabi was arrested in June 2010 and continues to be detained despite the fact that his family have provided the onerous bails demanded. Concerns for his health are particularly high as Shahabi already suffers from multiple medical problems. To follow: Text of the letter by members of Shahabi's family.

Another bus worker arrested as attacks on trade unionists intensify

Another member of Tehran’s bus workers’ union was arrested on Tuesday 10 November. Homayoon Jaaberi was detained at the Intelligence Ministry as he was making enquiries about the situation of another colleague, Gholamhosseini, who had been detained a week earlier.

Mr Jaaberi’s computer and other items have been seized from his home. Also, his wife is reported to have been threatened to co-operate with the security officials, otherwise ‘Jaaberi will be detained indefinitely’.

Jaaberi’s arrest comes in the wake of the recent detention of two other members of the Syndicate of Workers of Tehran and Suburbs Bus Company, Saeed Torabian and Gholamreza Gholamhosseini. Both were physically attacked and detained on 4^th November. Torabian was later released on bail; however, Gholamhosseini is still in detention.

Two other leaders of the bus workers’ union, Mansoor Ossanlou and Ebrahim Madadi, are already serving long prison sentences for union activity. Also, Reza Shahabi, another board member, has been detained since 12 June 2010 for the same reason, without charge. Ossanlou and Shahabi are said to be suffering from a number of medical conditions.

On 8 November two members of the Follow-up Committee to Set Up Free Workers’ Organisations, by the names of Seddigh Khosravi and Ebrahim Esmaily, were arrested and are being held in an unknown location.

Meanwhile, trade unionist and human rights activist Behnam Ebrahimzadeh is being detained in Ward 350 of Evin Prison in Tehran. Behnam was recently admitted to the Prison’s clinic with a bleeding stomach, following a hunger strike in protest against his continued arbitrary detention and maltreatment.

We call on all trade unions and concerned activists and individuals around the world to protest in the strongest possible terms against these outrageous attacks by the Islamic regime on worker activists in Iran.

WHAT YOU CAN DO

You can help by publicising the cases of the jailed workers, signing the petition for their release, sending letters of protest to the Islamic Republic authorities, calling and/or joining protest actions in front of the Islamic Republic's embassies, etc.

Click here to sign the petition

Send letters of protest to:

Sadegh Larijani - Head of the Judiciary of the Islamic Republic of Iran
Email: info@dadiran.ir

Mahmoud Ahmadinejad – President of the Islamic Republic of Iran
Email: via website: http://cp.president.ir/en/

Ali Khamenei – Leader of the Islamic Republic of Iran
Email: via website: http://www.leader.ir/langs/en/index.php?p=letter  (English)
http://www.leader.ir/langs/fa/index.php?p=letter  (Persian)

Free Them Now!

Campaign to Free Jailed Workers in Iran

14 November 2010

Co-ordinators:

 
Shahla Daneshfar (Shahla_Daneshfar@yahoo.com 0044-77798 98968)

Bahram Soroush (Bahram.Soroush@gmail.com 0044-7852 338334

Behnam’s detention extended for another month; call for urgent action

According to reports from Iran, Behnam Ebrahimzadeh, labour and human rights activist, is being detained in Ward 350 of Evin Prison in Tehran. Behnam was recently admitted to the Prison’s clinic with a bleeding stomach, following a hunger strike in protest against his continued arbitrary detention and maltreatment.

Behnam was arrested over four months ago, on 12 June 2010. He was so badly beaten during his arrest that he suffered serious injuries to his rib cage and leg. He has never been charged, and is being detained solely for his labour and human rights’ activities.

After months of uncertainty and dragging, the authorities in September set the shamelessly exorbitant bail of $100,000 for his release. However, although Behnam’s family have now finally secured the onerous sum, the judiciary is still refusing to release him, giving the excuse that the bail must be based on assets from the capital Tehran and not the provinces.

“They are just wasting time while my brother’s life is in danger. We need the help of all the workers, of all the people, across the world to save Behnam”, said Moosa Ebrahimzadeh in an appeal to the people of the world (See here for the full text of Moosa's letter).


WHAT YOU CAN DO

You (in personal capacity and/or on behalf of your union/organisation) can help by publicising the case of Behnam Ebrahimzadeh and other jailed workers in Iran, signing the petition for the release of Behnam and other jailed workers and by sending a letter of protest to the Islamic Republic authorities.


Please click here to sign the petition

Send letters of protest to:

Sadegh Larijani - Head of the Judiciary of the Islamic Republic of Iran
Email: info@dadiran.ir

Mahmoud Ahmadinejad – President of the Islamic Republic of Iran
Email: via website: http://cp.president.ir/en/

Ali Khamenei – Leader of the Islamic Republic of Iran
Email: via website: http://www.leader.ir/langs/en/index.php?p=letter  (English)
http://www.leader.ir/langs/fa/index.php?p=letter  (Persian)


SAMPLE LETTER

[Date]

Dear Mr …

[Sadegh Larijani, Head of the Judiciary of the Islamic Republic of Iran]
[Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, President of the Islamic Republic of Iran]
[Ali Khamenei, Leader of the Islamic Republic of Iran]

Re Mr Behnam Ebrahimzadeh, Iran

I am writing to protest in the strongest possible terms at the arbitrary arrest and detention of labour and human rights activist Mr Behnam Ebrahimzadeh.

Mr Ebrahimzadeh was arrested on 12 June 2010, and for months his whereabouts were unknown, despite repeated, anxious enquiries by members of his family. However, when Behnam’s family finally were able to make contact with him, they learnt that he was being held in the notorious Evin Prison in Tehran and that during his arrest he had been badly beaten up, as a result of which he had suffered serious injuries to his rib cage and leg.

Given Mr Ebrahimzadeh’s labour and human rights activities and the fact that no charges have been brought against him, it is clear that Mr Ebrahimzadeh is being detained solely for his labour and human rights’ activities – i.e. the same reason for which trade unionists such as Mansoor Osanloo, Ebrahim Madadi and Reza Shahabi, and countless others before them, have been put in prison by your government.

Earlier this month, following a hunger strike in protest against his continued detention and maltreatment, Mr Ebrahimzadeh was admitted to the Prison’s clinic with a bleeding stomach. He finally agreed to end his strike at the request of his family, when his condition had become critical.

Furthermore, after months of uncertainty and dragging, an onerous bail of $100,000 was set for Mr Ebrahimzadeh’s release. Although Behnam has objected to the bail, protesting that he has not committed a crime to be in jail in the first place and now to have to pay bail for his release, his family have secured the amount. However, the authorities are still refusing to release him, giving the excuse that the bail must be based on assets from the capital Tehran and not the provinces.

Given the above, I wish to express my strongest protest against the detention of Mr Ebrahimzadeh and my concerns about his health and safety in prison. I call on your government to immediately and unconditionally release Mr Ebrahimzadeh and all the other jailed workers, including Mansoor Osanloo, Ebrahim Madadi and Reza Shahabi.

Please be assured that I and my organisation are following this case closely, and will continue with all necessary publicity actions and national and international lobbying in order to secure Mr Ebrahimzadeh’s and other jailed activists’ safe release.

Yours faithfully,


[Name, position, organisation]

From brother of jailed Iranian trade unionist to people of the world: Behnam Ebrahimzadeh has gone on hunger strike. Help us save him!

Benham (Asad) Ebrahimzadeh is an Iranian worker. He is a workers’ rights, children’s rights and human rights activist. It is almost 4 months now that he has been languishing in solitary confinement in the notorious Ward 209 of Evin Prison in Tehran for those same ‘crimes’. Although a $100,000 bail has been set for his release, the authorities refuse to release him and keep giving us the runaround.

Behnam was arrested on June 12, 2010. He was so badly beaten at the time of the arrest that his rib cage and leg were injured, and he is still suffering from a severely sore leg.

Behnam’s family visited him today, Sept. 30, and learned that he had started a hunger strike since yesterday, protesting the solitary confinement and the prison officials’ refusal to provide medical care for his leg. This is worrisome news and we are deeply concerned. His life is in danger and we must do something.

Behnam objects to the bail, saying he has not done anything to deserve imprisonment and to have to pay bail to be released. We, on the other hand, have repeatedly contacted the prison officials to let them know that we have the bail money ready in order to get Behnam released. But the officials refuse to give us a straight answer. All they say is, ‘we will contact you’, i.e. evading and dragging. Meanwhile Behnam continues to languish in solitary confinement. Some weeks they cancel even his family visitation. That, in turn, adds to his wife’s and children’s worries and the pressures they live under. The authorities are just wasting time while my brother’s life is in danger. We need the help of all the workers, of all the people, across the world to rescue Behnam.

I, Moosa Ebrahimzadeh, Behnam’s brother, write this letter on behalf of our family and Behnam’s family. We are concerned. We have no alternative but to fight for the freedom of Behnam, as well as of all other jailed activists, with everything in our power. We, therefore, expect you, the workers and all concerned people of the world, to help us. All Behnam did was struggle for a dignified life for all. Let us save him. Behnam and all other jailed workers, as well as others who are in jail for their justified, humanitarian demands, must be freed immediately.

I, for my part, thank all those who have so far carried out protests to free Behnam and other jailed workers. I also hereby announce my own campaign for Behnam’s freedom. Please support me in promoting this campaign.

Moosa Ebrahimzadeh
Sept. 30, 2010

Translation: Jamshid Haadiaan, Free Them Now! Campaign http://free-them-now.blogspot.com/

One-year additional sentence for Mansoor Osanloo confirmed; Reza Shahabi and Ebrahim Madadi continue to be detained

As reported previously, Mansoor Osanloo, President of Tehran’s bus workers’ union, was retried on 1 August 2010 and sentenced to one more year in prison for ‘propaganda against the system’. Now, according to news released by the bus workers’ union (Syndicate of Workers of Tehran and Suburbs Bus Company), the appeal court of Tehran County has confirmed the sentence. This one year sentence is in addition to the five-year sentence which Osanloo was given for his union activities, four years of which he has already spent.

Mansoor Osanloo suffers from a number of ailments, such as a heart condition, backache and eye problems, which various medical panels of the Islamic regime itself have confirmed and have then called for his release.

Meanwhile, two other board members of the union, Ebrahim Madadi and Reza Shahabi continue to be jailed, also for union activity. Madadi has already spent over two years of a three and half year sentence, and Shahabi has been detained since June 12th without charge. Shahabi suffers from neck and back pain, and is said to be in poor health.

The Syndicate of Workers of Tehran and Suburbs Bus Company has condemned the confirmation of the additional sentence on Osanloo and the continued detention of Reza Shahabi and Ebrahim Madadi, and called for their release.

The latest news regarding Behnam Ebrahimzadeh and Reza Shahabi

Behnam Ebrahimzadeh, trade unionist and children rights activist, and Reza Shahabi, board member of Tehran and Suburbs Bus Workers' Syndicate, were visited by their families on Thursday Sept 2.

In this first visit since Behnam's arrest about three months ago, his family noticed serious injuries on his body. In his first telphone contact from prison, Behnam had informed his family about his injuries, inflicted in the hands of Islamic regime's jailers. His bail has been set at 100 million Rials (US$100,000). Behnam's family, while protesting this amount, are trying to raise the sum to release him.

Reza Shahabi has also been detained since June 12. He is in a critical health condition. His arrest order has been extended for three more months, he suffers from pain in his neck area and, while on medical leave, was kidnapped by the agents of the Information Ministry. Due to suspended medical treatment and three months' detention in Ward 209, he is now suffering from further physical problems such as backache and digestion problems.

We demand the immediate and unconditional release of all political prisoners including Behnam Ebrahimzadeh, Reza Shahabi, Mansoor Osanloo and Ebrahim Madadi.

Release all imprisoned workers and political prisoners!

Free Them Now! Campaign

Shahla Daneshfar
0044-77798 98968
Shahla_Daneshfar@yahoo.com
Bahram Soroush
0044-7852 338334
Bahram.Soroush@gmail.com

To sign the Free Them Now! petition and for information about imprisoned workers, please visit:.
http://free-them-now.blogspot.com/p/blog-page.html
Translated by Kamran
Courtsey of "A Global Revolution"

Letter from a member of Tehran's bus workers' union to 42nd Congress of ITF

Dear Colleagues,

I have learnt of the holding of your congress on August 5th 2010. Before I begin, I want to wish you a successful congress. I am writing this letter as an employee of Tehran and Suburbs Bus Company (Sherkat e Vahed), who lives in Canada for security reasons. I am also a member of the Union of Workers of Tehran and Suburbs Bus Company, and a member of the International Transport Workers’ Federation, ITF.

My name is Manuchehr Mahdavi Tabar. I used to work in District 1 in Tehran and was arrested in February 2006. They arrested us only because we wanted our union and struggled for our rights. Close to one thousand were arrested and imprisoned in our strike. When the worldwide campaign started on 15th of February 2006, it resulted in the freeing of many workers in just two days thanks to the strength of the solidarity action. This historical worldwide labour action gave a new boost to our struggle and to the Iranian labour movement. Currently, under different conditions, our co-workers are sitting in prison. Three of our union members: Mansoor Osanlo, Ebrahim Madadi and Reza Shahabi have been imprisoned. Also Behnam Ebrahimzadeh and other labour activists were arrested and imprisoned during last month. These arrests have been made at a time when the whole of society is in protest and workplaces are under pressure of layoffs, inflation, poverty and unpaid wages. People are protesting on a daily basis. Labour activists and their leaders have been imprisoned to prevent labour protests. They have arrested them to crush the workers’ syndicate of Vahed Company. The Islamic Republic is scared of labour protests and fears that it could spread to other places in society. You witnessed how Farzad Kamangar and four other political activists were executed two months ago. Additionally 6 other workers and teachers are in prison right now.

Iranian workers need international support urgently more than any other time. As a worker of Vahed bus workers’ union, and a member of the International Transport Workers’ Federation (ITF), I request your congress to give its greatest support to Iranian workers. I hope that a resolution gets through at your congress in support of the imprisoned workers of Vahed Company and other jailed workers and political prisoners in Iran. I look forward to an urgent day of action proposed by your congress against worker repression in Iran and for the release of all workers and political prisoners in Iran.

Mansoor Osanlo, Ebrahim Madadi, Reza Shahabi, Behnam Ebrahimzadeh and Mehdi Farrahi Shandiz and all other political prisoners in Iran must be freed immediately.

Manuchehr Mahadvi Tabar

20 July 2010

نامه يك كارگر شركت اتوبوسراني واحد ايران
به كنگره اتحاديه بين المللي كارگران ترانسپورت، آي تي اف

دوستان كارگر

مطلع شدم كه كنگره شما در ٥ اوت برگزار ميشود. قبل از هر چيز براي شما آرزوي كنگره اي پر از موفقيت را دارم. من بعنوان يك كارگر شركت اتوبوسراني واحد تهران كه اكنون به دليل خطرات امنيتي كه تهديدم ميكرد در كانادا زندگي ميكنم، بعنوان عضو سنديكاي شركت اتوبوسراني واحد و عضوي از اتحاديه بين المللي كارگران ترانسپورت، آي تي اف، اين نامه را به شما مينويسم.

من منوچهر مهدوي تبار كارگر شركت واحد هستم. در منطقه ١ در تهران كار ميكردم و در اعتصاب بهمن سال ٨٤ (٢٠٠٦) دستگير شدم. من و همكارانم را دستگير كردند، چون سنديكاي خود را ميخواستيم. چون براي حق و حقوقمان مبارزه ميكرديم. نزديك به هزار كارگر در اعتصاب ما دستگير و زنداني شدند. اما به ناگهان كمپيني جهاني در ١٥ فوريه ٢٠٠٦، برپا شد و قدرت اين همبستگي جهاني آنچنان بود كه در آنموقع ظرف دو روز تعداد بسياري از كارگران زنداني آزاد شدند و اين حركت تاريخي كارگري جهاني، نيروي جديدي به مبارزات ما و كارگران ايران داد. اكنون در شرايطي ديگر باز همكاران من در زندانند. ٤ نفر از اعضاي سنديكاي ما ، منصور اسانلو، ابراهيم مددي، سعيد ترابيان و رضا شهابي در زندانند. بهنام ابراهيم زاده و فعال ديگر كارگري را نيز در همين ماه گذشته دستگير كردند. اين دستگيريها در وضعيتي صورت گرفته است كه كل جامعه ايران در اعتراض و مبارزه است و مراكز كارگري زير فشار بيكارسازيها، گراني، فقر ، نپرداختن دستمزدها، در اعتراض هر روزه است. اين رهبران كارگري را زندان كرده اند تا جلوي اعتراض كارگران را بگيرند. اين رهبران را زنداني كرده اند تا سنديكاي شركت واحد را در هم بشكنند. جمهوري اسلامي از اعتراضات كارگران و گسترش آن بيم دارد. شما ديديد كه جمهوري اسلامي فرزاد كمانگر و ٤ فعال سياسي ديگر را دو ماه پيش اعدام كرد و الان جدا از ٦ كارگر زنداني تعدادي از معلمان نيز در زندانند.

اكنون كارگران ايران بيش از هر وقت نياز به حمايت بين المللي دارند. من بعنوان يك كارگر شركت اتوبوسراني واحد ايران، و عضوي از اتحاديه بين المللي كارگران ترانسپورت، ، از كنگره شما در خواست ميكنم كه وسيعترين حمايت خود را از كارگران ايران اعلام كنيد. انتظار دارم كه يك مصوبه كنگره شما حمايت از كارگران زنداني شركت واحد و ديگر كارگران زنداني و زندانياني سياسي در ايران باشد. انتظار دارم كه يك اقدام فوري كنگره شما تعيين روزي به عنوان روز اعتراض عليه سركوب كارگران در ايران و خواست آزادي همه كارگران از زندان باشد. منصور اسانلو،ابراهيم مددي، سعيد ترابيان، رضا شهابي، بهنام ابراهيم زاده و مهدي فراهي شانديز و همه زندانيان سياسي در ايران بايد فورا از زندان آزاد شوند.

منوچهر مهدوي تبار
٢٠ جولای ٢٠١٠

Saeed Torabian freed

It has just been announced by the Union of Workers of Tehran and Suburbs United (Vahed) Bus Company that Saeed Torabian, the union's jailed public relations officer, has been released. Saeed Torabian was arrested at his home on 9 June, and thus spent 41 days in jail on spurious charges. The union's other leading members, Mansour Ossanlou, Ebrahim Madadi and Reza Shahabi, are still in jail. It is believed Reza Shahabi is being held in Evin Prison's special interrogation ward, Ward 209.

Open letter by mother and brother of jailed worker Behnam Ebrahimzadeh

'he was so badly beaten that his leg and two ribs were broken'

Following is the translation of a letter from the mother and brother of one of the jailed workers, Behnam Ebrahimzadeh. Original Farsi appeared on Mission Free Iran:

To all humanist people across the world:
We demand the freedom of Behnam Ebrahimzadeh and all other jailed workers

We are a working-class family in the city of Oshnaviye, Iran. Our 35-year-old son and brother, Behnam, is currently in prison. He was arrested on Saturday, June 12, in Tehran. Right at the outset he was so badly beaten that his leg and two ribs were broken. He called from the prison infirmary and told us about his condition. Since that day, however, we have had no news of him, and our enquiries remain unanswered by the authorities.

Our Behnam is a worker at Polyethylene Pipe Manufacturing in Shoorabaad, Shar-e-Rey, [southern most township of Greater Tehran metropolitan city]. He is a defender of the rights of workers, children, and human beings in general. He was arrested last year also for taking part in the rally held to celebrate May 1 at Laale Park in Tehran, detained for a month, and released on bail.

Besides Behnam, my husband and my other son, Abdolrahmaan Ebrahimzadeh and Eesa Ebrahimzadhe respectively, are also workers who have always fought for their right and never been quiet. They too were arrested last year - together with a number of their fellow workers - kept in jail for 12 days, and released on a bail of $10,000. Now they have been summoned again, and are due to present themselves to court on July 24.

My husband and children are being put under pressure because they want to live a dignified, human life. Instead, they have been thrown into jail like criminals, with files opened for them; just because they demand their right. And it’s been for many years now that this pressure has been on our family as well as the families of all other workers who have refused to be quiet and demanded their rights and wages. Their arrest translates into poverty and hunger for their families. Also, in the process of tracking the fate of their loved ones, families have to bear the constant pressure of insult and humiliation.

I and my son, Moosa, the writers of this letter, know that it may cause and cost us much trouble. But neither can we remain silent any more. How much more are we supposed to remain silent?

We demand the immediate freedom of all our loved ones, all the workers, all the people from jail. We want you to help us. Help us globally! All the workers and all the people, help us! Let us get together and do something: free Behnam; free all of the workers!

Aysha, mother of Behnam Ebrahimzadeh
Moosa, brother of Behnam Ebrahimzadeh

July 8, 2010

Growing support for the campaign from activists in France

Latest additions to the initial list of signatories:

Stéphane Julien (Labour activist, member of SNUipp-FSU, France)
Jean Sanvoisin (Labour activist, member of CGT, France)
Nicolas Dessaux (Labour activist, SUD-CT, France)
Laurette Brodut (Retired nurse, France)
Daniel Chambinaud (Member of FO union, France)
Françoise Irkhine (Office worker, Belgium)
Laurent Quinson (Labour activist, member of SNASUB-FSU, France)

The full list so far:

Mamad Amiri (Labour activist, Sweden)Davoud Aram (Labour activist, Canada)
Foroogh Arghavan (Labour activist, Canada)
Masoud Arzhang (Labour activist, Canada)
Naser Asghari (Labour activist, Canada)
Shahla Daneshfar (Labour activist)
Pascal Descamp (Labour activist, member of CGT, France)
Saleh Falahi (Labour activist, transport workers’ union, Norway)
Morteza Fateh (Labour activist, UK)
Ahmad Fatemi (Labour activist, member of Unionen, Sweden)
Reza Fathi (Labour activist, former member of a union in Iran)
Farshad Hosseini (Labour activist, Holland)
Mehran Khorshidi (Labour activist, transport workers’ union, Norway)
Yadi Kouhi (Labour activist, France)
Mehran Mahboobi (Labour activist, Canada)
Shiva Mahboobi (Spokesperson, Campaign to Free Political Prisoners in Iran)
Manouchehr Mahdavi Tabar (Former member of the Syndicate of Workers of Tehran and Suburbs Vahed Bus Company)
Abbas Mandegar (Labour activist, transport workers’ union, Canada)
Shahnaz Morattab (Labour activist, postal workers’ union, Germany)
Arsalan Nazeri (Labour activist, Australia)
Mohammad Nemati (Former member of the Free Union of Iranian Workers)
Saber Rahimi (Labour activist, Norway)
Reza Rashidi (Former Member of the Follow-up Committee to Set Up Free Workers’ Organisations in Iran)
Bahram Soroush (Labour activist)
Abbas Zamani (Labour activist, former member of a union in Iran)

New since July 9th:

Stéphane Julien (Labour activist, member of SNUipp-FSU, France)
Jean Sanvoisin (Labour activist, member of CGT, France)
Nicolas Dessaux (Labour activist, SUD-CT, France)
Laurette Brodut (Retired nurse, France)
Daniel Chambinaud (Member of FO union, France)
Françoise Irkhine (Office worker, Belgium)
Laurent Quinson (Labour activist, member of SNASUB-FSU, France)

Campaign Statement

In Iran workers are routinely arrested for going on strike, for building a union or for celebrating May Day. That is what happened to bus workers in Tehran: Over 700 of them were arrested when they went on strike in 2006. Some of their leaders, such as Mansoor Ossanlou, are still in jail, and some have been fired from their jobs. It happened to sugar cane workers when they organised protests over unpaid wages and built a union. Their leaders have spent months in prison and are daily harassed with court summons and heavy bails. Some have also lost their jobs. Teachers who took strike action and held rallies over their pay and conditions have also been put in prison. Over the years, hundreds of workers have met a similar end for exercising their fundamental right to freely organise, strike and assemble.

Arbitrary arrests and detentions, long prison terms, violent interrogations, beatings, even use of lashing to degrade and break down, denial of medical care to sick detainees, constant harassment in the form of court summons, heavy bails and daily threats issued against the workers and their families, and the ultimate weapon of cutting workers off their livelihood by firing them, make up a brutal regime of systematic persecution of labour activists in Iran.

In May this year the regime added to its 31-year record of horrific human rights abuse by executing well-known teacher and labour activist Farzad Kamangar, along with four other political prisoners. The world’s trade unions and human rights organisations had been campaigning for Farzad’s release for years, and vehemently condemned the callous killings.

We, a group of labour activists and campaigners from Iran and around the world, have set up this campaign to highlight the plight of the workers currently in jail in Iran or under the threat of arrest and detention. The aim of the campaign is the immediate and unconditional release of all labour activists who are currently in jail. Some of us are former members of the very unions suppressed by the regime in Iran, who are continuing the fight in exile through this and other campaigns.

Our demand is clear: the terror and violence against workers in Iran must stop! Workers in Iran should be able to freely exercise their fundamental right to set up their own organisations, meet, assemble and protest as they wish, take strike action, organise and take part in rallies, etc., without fear of being arrested and thrown in jail. All jailed workers must be immediately and unconditionally freed!

The following workers are currently known to be held in various prisons and detention centres in Iran. The actual list is much longer. The whereabouts of some remain unknown (The list is regularly updated on our blogs):

From the Syndicate of Workers of Tehran and Suburbs United (Vahed) Bus Company:

Mansoor Ossanlou (President)
Ebrahim Madadi (Vice President)
Saeed Torabian (Spokesperson)
Reza Shahabi (Treasurer)

From the Iranian Teachers’ Trade Association:

Ghorban Ahmadi
Ali Akbar Baghani
Hossein Bastani Nejad
Mahmoud Beheshti Langroodi
Rasoul Bodaghi
Mohammad Davari
Alireza Hashemi (General Secretary)
Seyyed Hashem Khastar
Abdollah Momeni

* Another teacher, Abdolreza Ghanbari, was arrested during the mass anti-government demonstration on 27 December 2009. He has been sentenced to death.

Other detained labour activists:

Behnam Ebrahim-zadeh
Mehdi Farrahi Shandiz


We call on all trade unions and human rights organisations around the world and all individuals and organisations appalled by the horrific human rights abuse in Iran to support and sign up to this campaign.


Initial signatories:

Mamad Amiri (Labour activist, Sweden)
Davoud Aram (Labour activist, Canada)
Foroogh Arghavan (Labour activist, Canada)
Masoud Arzhang (Labour activist, Canada)
Naser Asghari (Labour activist, Canada)
Dave Bleakney (Canadian Union of Postal Workers, CUPW)
Shahla Daneshfar (Labour activist)
Pascal Descamp (Labour activist, member of CGT, France)
Salah Fallahi (Labour activist, transport workers’ union, Norway)
Morteza Fateh (Labour activist, UK)
Ahmad Fatemi (Labour activist, member of Unionen, Sweden)
Reza Fathi (Labour activist, former member of a union in Iran)
Farshad Hosseini (Labour activist, Holland)
Mehran Khorshidi (Labour activist, transport workers’ union, Norway)
Yadi Kouhi (Labour activist, France)
Mehran Mahboobi (Labour activist, Canada)
Shiva Mahboobi (Spokesperson, Campaign to Free Political Prisoners in Iran)
Manouchehr Mahdavi Tabar (Former member of the Syndicate of Workers of Tehran and Suburbs Vahed Bus Company)
Abbas Mandegar (Labour activist, transport workers’ union, Canada)
Shahnaz Morattab (Labour activist, postal workers’ union, Germany)
Arsalan Nazeri (Labour activist, Australia)
Mohammad Nemati (Former member of the Free Union of Iranian Workers)
Saber Rahimi (Labour activist, Norway)
Reza Rashidi (Former Member of the Follow-up Committee to Set Up Free Workers’ Organisations in Iran)
Bahram Soroush (Labour activist)
Abbas Zamani (Labour activist, former member of a union in Iran)


Campaign co-ordinators:

Shahla Daneshfar
Shahla_Daneshfar@yahoo.com 0044-77798 98968
Bahram Soroush
Bahram.Soroush@gmail.com 0044-7852 338334

8 July 2010