Fear for the life of jailed Iranian labour activist Mohammad Jarahi

There are growing fears for the life of imprisoned labour activist Mohammad Jarahi, who is now known to be suffering from thyroid  cancer. Jarahi, who is a member of the Committee to Pursue the Establishment of Workers’ Organisations, was arrested last June and sentenced to five years in prison. He is now in the second year of his sentence.

Jarahi underwent surgery on 16^th February this year. However, the results of the tests following the operation show that he has thyroid cancer. According to his doctors, Jarahi should begin his treatment as soon as possible. However, despite the efforts of his family for him to be referred for immediate medical treatment outside prison, Jarahi continues to be jailed.

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Mohammad Jarahi is in prison purely for his union activities. He should not be in jail, and should be able to receive urgent medical care and treatment outside prison.

Free Them Now! calls for the immediate and unconditional release of Mohammad Jarahi.

24 March 2013

Free Them Now! Campaign to Free Jailed Workers in Iran

Shahla Daneshfar (shahla_daneshfar@yahoo.com)

Bahram Soroush (bahram.soroush@gmail.com)

http://free-them-now.blogspot.co.uk/

Iran: another worker arrested as persecution of labour activists intensifies

Following the recent arrest of six labour activists in the city of Sanandaj in the west of Iran, another worker by the name of Ghaleb Hosseini, a member of the Co-ordinating Committee to Help Form Workers’ Organisations, was arrested on 19 March. The activists arrested earlier in the month are Vafa Ghaderi, Seyed Khaled Hosseini, Ali Azadi, Behzad Farajollahi, Hamed Mahmoud Nejad and Sharif Saed Panah.

The first five activists are also members of the Co-ordinating Committee to Help Form Workers’ Organisations, and were arrested on 7 March. Sharif Saed Panah is an executive member of the Free Union of Iranian Workers and an organiser of the 30,000-signature pay-rise campaign. He was arrested on 10 March.

All these activists are being held purely for their union activities, and must be released immediately and unconditionally.

Arbitrary arrests and detention, long prison terms following fabricated trials, torture and abuse, denial of medical care, threatening the families of the detainees, imposition of extortionate bails, and so on, are part and parcel of a programme of persistent persecution which the Islamic regime in Iran practises against workers demanding their rights and attempting to organise.

Meanwhile, families of the detained workers have continued their protest gatherings outside the Intelligence Ministry building in the city of Sanandaj.

Only forceful protests in Iran and internationally can put an end to this flagrant denial of worker rights and persecution of labour activists.

Free Them Now! calls for the immediate and unconditional release of all jailed  workers and all political prisoners in Iran.

23 March 2013 

Free Them Now! Campaign to Free Jailed Workers in Iran

Shahla Daneshfar (shahla_daneshfar@yahoo.com)

Bahram Soroush (bahram.soroush@gmail.com)

http://free-them-now.blogspot.co.uk/

Iran: Six worker activists arrested

Families stage protests for their release

In the past ten days, six worker activists have been arrested in the city of Sanandaj in the west of Iran, according to reports by the Free Union of Iranian Workers. The six jailed workers are:

• Vafa Ghaderi
• Seyed Khaled Hosseini
• Ali Azadi
• Behzad Farajollahi
• Hamed Mahmoud Nejad
• Sharif Saed Panah

The first five activists are all from the Co-ordinating Committee to Help Form Workers’ Organisations, and were arrested on 7 March. Sharif Saed Panah is an executive member of the Free Union of Iranian Workers and an organiser of the 30,000-signature pay-rise campaign. He was arrested on 10 March. The activists are being held purely for their union activities.

Meanwhile, on Sunday, for the eighth day running, families of the jailed workers staged a protest outside the Intelligence Ministry, calling for the immediate release of their loved ones. They then marched towards the Provincial Governor’s office to continue their protests there. The families have vowed to continue their protests until all the jailed workers are released.

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Free Them Now! calls for the immediate and unconditional release of the jailed workers and all political prisoners in Iran.

18 March 2013 

Free Them Now! Campaign to Free Jailed Workers in Iran

Shahla Daneshfar (shahla_daneshfar@yahoo.com)

Bahram Soroush (bahram.soroush@gmail.com)

http://free-them-now.blogspot.co.uk/