Justice for Iranian Workers

URGENT ACTION for Reza Shahabi and Zabihollah Bagheri
TRADE UNIONIST GIVEN SIX-YEAR PRISON SENTENCE

Iranian trade unionist Reza Shahabi has been sentenced to six years ‘ imprisonment on vaguely worded charges . He is in poor health, and it is not clear whether he is receiving all necessary medical treatment. Another trade unionist is missing after being arrested.

Reza Shahabi (also known as Reza Shahabi Zakaria), the Treasurer of the Union of Workers of the Tehran and Suburbs Bus Company (Sherkat-e Vahed), has been detained in Evin Prison in the Iranian capital, Tehran, since June 2010. He is in poor health after numerous hunger strikes in protest at the conditions in which he is held. Since around February 2012, he has complained that one side of his body was numb. However, it was not until 30 April that the prison authorities took him to hospital. It is not clear whether he is receiving adequate medical treatment.

Reza Shahabi was sentenced to five years’ imprisonment for “gathering and colluding against state security” and one year for “spreading propaganda against the system” by Branch 15 of the Revolutionary Court of Tehran. He has also been fined 70 million rial (US$5,700) and banned from all trade unionist activities for five years. According to his lawyer, the prosecution is seeking to bring a fresh charge of “enmity against God” for alleged contact with the People’s Mojahedin Organization of Iran (PMOI), a banned opposition group. Amnesty International believes that Reza Shahabi has been convicted solely for his peaceful trade union work, and is a prisoner of conscience.

On or about 24 April 2012, trade unionist Zabihollah Bagheri was arrested on his way out of the Moharakeh Steel Plant in Esfahan, central Iran, by three plain-clothed officials. His current whereabouts are unknown.

The deputy head of the Tehran Bus Drivers’ Union, Ebrahim Madadi (or Maddadi), was released from Evin Prison on 18 April after completing a three-and-a-half-year sentence for his alleged activities “against national security”.

Please write immediately in Persian, English or your own language:

Calling on the Iranian authorities to immediately and unconditionally release Reza Shahabi as he is held solely for his peaceful trade union activities and to clarify Zabihollah Bagheri’s whereabouts and current legal status;

Calling for Zabihollah Bagheri to be allowed immediate access to his family and lawyer;

Urging the Iranian authorities to protect Reza Shahabi and Zabihollah Bagheri from torture or other ill-treatment and to provide them with all necessary medical care.

PLEASE SEND APPEALS BEFORE 2 0 JUNE 2012 TO:

Leader of the Islamic Republic

Ayatollah Sayed ‘Ali Khamenei The Office of the Supreme Leader Islamic Republic Street – End of Shahid Keshvar Doust Street, Tehran, Islamic Republic of Iran Email: info_leader@leader.ir Twitter: “Call on #Iran leader

@khamenei_ir to release all trade unionists held solely for peaceful TU activities”

Salutation: Your Excellency

Head of the Judiciary

Ayatollah Sadegh Larijani

[Care of] Public Relations Office

Number 4, 2 Azizi Street intersection

Tehran,

Islamic Republic of Iran

Email: bia.judi@yahoo.com (Subject

Line: FAO Ayatollah Sadegh Larijani)

Salutation: Your Excellency

And copies to:

Secretary General High Council for Human Rights

Mohammed Javad Larijani c/o Office of the Head of the Judicary Pasteur St, Vali Asr Ave

South of Serah-e Jomhouri Tehran, Islamic Republic of Iran Email: info@humanrights-iran.ir (Subject line: FAO Mohammad Javad Larijani)

Also send copies to diplomatic representatives accredited to your country. Please insert local diplomatic addresses below:

Name Address 1 Address 2 Address 3 Fax Fax number Email Email address Salutation Salutation

Please check with your section office if sending appeals after the above date. This is the fourth update of UA 130/10. Further information: http://www.amnesty.org/en/library/info/MDE13/053/2011/en

Additional Information
Read more…

19 April 2012

The ITF has learnt that Ebrahim Madadi, vice-president of the ITF-affiliated Syndicate of Workers of the Tehran and Suburbs Bus Company, has been released from imprisonment.

First arrested in August 2007 and released in December 2007, Madadi was again detained in December 2008. Set free in December 2011 he was rearrested a short while later. He was accused of putting national security at risk.

Welcoming Madadi’s release, ITF general secretary David Cockroft stated: “Ebrahim has been released, as expected, at the end of a three and a half year sentence whose justice he has always challenged. I am sure that the ongoing representations to the government of Iran made by his supporters worldwide have helped ensure this latest action, which we trust will not be followed, as it has in the past, by further police harassment and imprisonment.”

The news of Madadi’s release coincides with reports this week that the union’s board member and treasurer Reza Shahabi has been sentenced to six years imprisonment. In a poor state of health, Shahabi has already been detained for 22 months.

It has been reported that the sentence includes one year for “propaganda activities against the system” and five years for “conspiracy with the intention of acting against national security”. It is also understood that he has been prohibited from carrying out any union activities for five years and has been fined seven million Tomans (more than US$4,500).

In a statement released on 16 April, ITF general secretary David Cockroft described the sentence as “outrageous”.

Shahabi has begun a hunger strike in protest over the sentence.

Source: http://www.itfglobal.org/news-online/index.cfm/newsdetail/7300

Abdolreza Ghanbari, a 44-year-old lecturer of Payam e Nour University, was arrested at his home in Pakdasht on 4 January 2010. He was charged with Moharebeh (enmity towards God) for receiving unsolicited emails from an armed opposition group, to which he does not belong.

While in detention at the notorious Evin Prison, Prof. Ghanbari was interrogated for 25 days in a row and forced to confess under duress to unproven charges. Nasrin Sotoudeh was his lawyer until he was himself condemned to a six year sentence in Evin prison for “propaganda against the regime” and “acting against national security”. In 2007, Prof. Ghanbari had already been detained for 120 days and sentenced to a six-month suspension from teaching and exiled from Sari to Pakdasht. Prof. Ghanbari has no known political connections.

He was previously involved in teacher union activities until his union ITTA was dissolved in 2007. Prof. Ghanbari’s death sentence has been confirmed by Tehran’s Appeal Court, Branch 36 in April 2010. He has since been waiting on death row. A request for pardon was rejected on February 28 by the Commission of Justice in Tehran. It means that authorities are allowed to proceed with the execution. The Education International calls on the Iranian authorities to stay the execution of Prof. Abdolreza Ghanbari and revoke the death sentence; to drop all charges against all detained trade unionists and release them immediately; to comply with the international labour standards and respect the rights of Iranian workers to freedom of association, assembly and expression.

CLICK HERE AND SEND YOUR MESSAGE VIA LABOURSTART NOW. It will only take one minute. Please circulate this message to your friends and colleagues as relevant and appropriate.

http://www.labourstart.org/cgi-bin/solidarityforever/show_campaign.cgi?c=1299&src=macu

28 February 2012

The ITF has told Ayatollah Khamenei that the approach of the Iranian New Year provides an ideal time to release Ebrahim Madadi and Reza Shahabi.

In a letter to Ayatollah Sayed Ali Khamenei, ITF general secretary David Cockroft stated:

“You will be aware that I have had cause to write to you and your government several times, not least in order to protest against the court proceedings against Reza Shahabi and the continuing imprisonment of Ebrahim Madadi, two members of our affiliated trade union the Syndicate of Workers of Tehran and Suburbs Bus Company.

We have been informed that, despite his ill health, Reza Shahabi was returned to Evin prison on the 14th of February after sixty-two days in hospital without any surgery, and he is expected in court on February 29th. He has been in prison since June 2010, during which time he has been denied the substantive medical treatment he requires.

Ebrahim Madadi’s term in prison is due to end in mid-April. On November 30th last year he was freed and then rearrested despite having spent three years in jail and, indeed, much of the last seven years in custody.

We do not know if his inexplicable rearrest in November was a due to a bureaucratic error or if it was an attempt to punish him – but either way it was an unacceptable infringement on his rights and liberty. Like the continuing imprisonment of the increasingly ill Reza Shahabi, it is an injustice that is crying out to be righted.

As you know we are close to the Iranian New Year, which provides a perfect opportunity to unconditionally release both men

I trust that you will act on this important matter and ensure that the police and the justice system are not used to condemn workers for legitimate trade union activities.”

Source: http://www.itfglobal.org/press-area/index.cfm/pressdetail/7090

7 December 2011

The ITUC was dismayed and incensed to hear today that Ebrahim Madadi, a courageous trade unionist and Comrade from Vahed Syndicate in Tehran, was re-arrested today after being freed only last Thursday. A move welcomed by the international trade union movement

ITUC General Secretary, Sharan Burrow, said :”this can only be interpreted as yet another crass and cynical move by the authorities to distract attention from the serious violations of trade union rights in Iran immediately prior to the ILO Regional Asia Pacific Conference which just concluded in Kyoto”.

It is absolutely shameful on the part of the regime to ‘play’ in this fashion with the lives of people and their families, for no other reason than the exercise of their fundamental human and trade union right to represent the legitimate aspirations of other workers.

ITF general secretary David Cockroft added: “We don’t yet know if this arrest is a bureacratic error or an attempt to punish Ebrahim – but either way it’s an unacceptable infringement on his rights and liberty. Like the continuing imprisonment of the increasingly ill Reza Shahabi it is an injustice that is crying out to be righted.”

The ITUC will continue to denounce the callous shenanigans of such dishonourable and discredited thugs.

Source: http://www.ituc-csi.org/ebrahim-madadi-re-arrested-today.html

ITUC/ITF Joint press release

30 November 2011
The International Trade Union Confederation (ITUC) and the International Transport Workers’ Federation (ITF) are welcoming the release today from prison of Ebrahim Madadi, a board member of the Tehran bus drivers’ union, the Vahed Syndicate. Ebrahim had been unjustly held on false charges of endangering national security since being arrested and then rearrested in 2007 and 2008.

“He is free because trade unionists worldwide have been demanding justice” ITUC General Secretary Sharan Burrow said. “It is also a result of pressure through the International Labour Organization (ILO) which has been critical of Iran for not living up to the international obligations they have signed onto”.

“Many serious human and trade union rights issues remain to be solved in Iran and the fundamental violations of trade union rights need to be addressed. While cautiously welcoming this important step forward, the ITUC and the ITF, on behalf of workers everywhere, call once again upon the Iranian authorities to urgently release all other trade unionists from prison.”

ITF general secretary David Cockroft commented: “This excellent news is proof that protest works. We have all fought long and hard for this release, as we did for Mansour Osanloo’s. However, the day all of those unjustly imprisoned in Iran are set free is the day we will be able to truly celebrate.

“We look forward to both Ebrahim Madadi and Mansour Osanloo taking their rightful places as leaders of the Vahed Syndicate.”

Source: http://www.itfglobal.org/press-area/index.cfm/pressdetail/6764

***

ITUC Online

29 November 2011

The situation of Reza Shahabi has deteriorated in the last few days. Last week protests at his being returned to jail from hospital appeared to have borne fruit: he was allowed back to hospital. But that progress has now been reversed, and he is believed to have once again been sent to Evin Prison, where as of Tuesday 22nd November he has begun a hunger strike in protest. His family have been refused access to him since 20th November, and have received no news about his state of health.

ITF general secretary David Cockroft stated: “Is this a cruel game of cat and mouse, or is it indicative of the conflicts within Iran between those backing moderation and those promoting repression? We don’t know. What we do know though is that it is well past time for Reza to be released and given treatment. His continuing detention shames Iran.”

Source: http://www.itfglobal.org/press-area/index.cfm/pressdetail/6753

Reza Shahabi

18 November 2011

The Tehran bus drivers’ union the Vahed Syndicate, of which imprisoned Iranian trade unionist Reza Shahabi is a board member, has raised concerns about his state of health.

According to the union he has been returned to prison after being taken to hospital for an MRI scan and X rays for a neck injury. He had previously been transferred to hospital due to deteriorating health following his hunger strike last year.

ITF general secretary David Cockroft said: “Reza has now been unjustly held since his arrest in June of last year. This is clearly taking a toll on his health. It is past time for the authorities to withdraw the false charges of endangering national security used against him and let Reza – along with other unjustly detained trade unionists such as Ebrahim Madadi – go free.”

Source: http://www.itfglobal.org/press-area/index.cfm/pressdetail/6708

24 October 2011

The ITF has expressed concern over summonses to attend court issued to Seyed Davood Razavi, a former treasurer of the Tehran bus drivers’ union, the Vahed Syndicate, and to his fellow Vahed executive board member Yaghoub Salimi.

ITF general secretary David Cockroft explained: “We believe that Davood is likely to be questioned over some spurious charges dating back to 2007, of propaganda against regime, illegal gathering and endangering national security. Similar charges were made against Yaghoub.”

He continued:  “I think it’s clear that this treatment is not going to achieve anything, and we would strongly suggest to the authorities that they desist, reflect on how they finally saw sense by freeing Mansour Osanloo, and then also do the same for Reza Shahabi and Ebrahim Madadi.”

Source: http://www.itfglobal.org/press-area/index.cfm/pressdetail/6583

Under strong intimidation and threats, 6,500 workers at the government-owned Mahshahr Bandar Imam Petrochemical complex, in the South-West of Iran, took strike action on 28 September, demanding an end to management’s use of subcontracting firms at the plant. Workers’ rights are continuously undermined by intermediary companies, in a familiar pattern seen around the world. Workers are not directly employed by the factory where they work, and so are unable to bargain collectively with management, forced to work in substandard conditions with low wages and allowances, all based on precariously temporary contracts.

Workers at the Tabriz petrochemical company at the plant conducted an 11-day strike in March this year on the same demands. That strike was suspended after an empty government promise to respond to workers’ demands within three months. While CAL workers do not receive their production and efficiency bonuses, their contract agency collects those benefits. Despite of management threats and arrests of union activists, the union is committed to continuing the action until their demand is met.

On paper, the management has supposedly committed itself to eliminating the subcontracting firms for some time but its actual implementation in most facilities is yet to happen.

The Free Union of Iranian Workers reports that on the seventh day of the strike, three oil workers were summoned to the security office and immediately put under arrest. These were Mansour Abbasi, a worker with the Khawrazmi subcontracting company and a workers’ representative; Mohammad Bagher Bagheri, worker at Fars Industries contracting company and a workers’ representative; and Jasem Bandarani, another worker at the Khawrazmi subcontracting company. The arrests followed protest rallies near the main offices of the petrochemical complex which included marches and chants. The three arrested workers have since been released.

Reports suggest over 70% of Iranian workers are employed on temporary contracts, with no job security. Many other shocking abuses are reported, from poverty wages often beneath the low minimum wage, non-payment of salaries for up to 18 months, extremely dangerous working conditions, and little to no legislative protections.

Source: http://www.icem.org/en/78-ICEM-InBrief/4712-Iranian-Petrochemical-Workers-Strike-Demanding-Elimination-of-Subcontractors

2 June 2011

Osanloo free at last

The ITF is delighted to announce that imprisoned trade unionist Mansour Osanloo was today freed from jail in Iran almost four years since his arrest and imprisonment, which set off a storm of international protest.

His release is conditional on his ‘good behaviour’ and the payment of a bond.

The ITF (International Transport Workers’ Federation) has led demands for Mansour Osanloo’s release. ITF general secretary David Cockroft commented: “This is a great day for Mansour and his family – and for his fellow Vahed union members and those of us in the international trade union movement who are honoured to call him a friend. It’s doubly welcome given the deterioration in his health during his time behind bars.

“He is free because trade unionists worldwide demanded justice.”

He continued: “That bail has been set falls short of the full pardon we all wanted, and which the Iranian government promised, but for now we can just take a moment to savour his richly deserved return to his family.”

“But – and sadly even on a day as good as this one there has to be a but – there are other innocents in jail in Iran for the same ‘crime’ of wanting to join a trade union. They include Mansour’s colleagues, Reza Shahabi and Ebrahim Madadi. For all of them, and us, the fight is not over. As much as we welcome the Iranian government’s move and its finally listening to reason, we know we must renew our insistence that those other prisoners are set free and the threat of re-arrest lifted from Mansour, and then commit the ITF, our member unions and friends in the trade union and human rights movements to campaigning on their behalf.”

The Vahed Syndicate responded to the news by saying that they would like to thank everyone who has fought so hard for his release.

Mansour Osanloo was a bus driver and is the president and one of the founding members of the Vahed Syndicate, a free trade union representing Tehran’s bus workers. From its beginnings in 2005 the ITF-affiliated union was subjected to heavy repression, including repeated attacks and arrests. Mansour Osanloo was heavily targeted. As well as being beaten up and having his tongue slit he was imprisoned in 2005 and 2006. Then in 2007, just one month after visiting the London head office of the ITF and meeting trade unionists in Brussels, he was arrested. Three months later he was sentenced to five years imprisonment on charges of ‘acting against national security’ and ‘propaganda against the state’; in 2010 another year was added to his sentence. In reality his only offence was to help found a genuinely democratic trade union.

For more details, including a film, press releases and history, please see www.itfglobal.org/campaigns/freeosanloo.cfm

ENDS

Attachment

Photos of Mansour Osanloo at the ITF in London in June 2007, one month before his arrest. Higher resolution copies (2MB) are available on request from dawson_sam@itf.org.uk

11 May 2011

ITF general secretary David Cockroft wrote today to Iran’s Ayatollah Khamenei to alert him to the deteriorating health of Mansour Osanloo and Reza Shahabi, and to once again urge immediate treatment and release for the two unjustly imprisoned trade unionists.

He wrote: “On behalf of 4.6 million transport workers and their trade union organisations around the world, I am writing to you to voice our grave concern over the recent deterioration in the health of Mansour Osanloo and Reza Shahabi. The former is the President and the latter is the Treasurer of our Iranian affiliated union the Vahed Syndicate, and both are currently in prison for their trade union activities.

We believe that Mansour Osanloo is again suffering from serious heart problems and was taken to a hospital on the 1st of May. We are informed that his doctors have advised that surgery is urgently needed. Regarding Reza Shahabi, we note that he has been experiencing repeated, unexplained nosebleeds, but again, no adequate medical treatment has been given, even though he has been appealing for this for some time now. Unsurprisingly both his family and colleagues are deeply concerned.

In a response to the Committee on Freedom of Association of the ILO in May last year, the Iranian government stated that Mansour Osanloo would soon be pardoned. However, this promise has never been fulfilled. In the meantime, the ITF, together with its allies in international trade union and human rights organisations, have been demanding the release of all imprisoned trade unionists, including Mansour Osanloo, Reza Shahabi and Ebrahim Madadi. Major trade unions have granted honorary membership to Mansour Osanloo and more unions are planning such an award.

We therefore once again strongly urge your office to provide adequate medical treatment to Mansour Osanloo and Reza Shahabi without any delay, preparatory to their release from imprisonment.”

Source: http://www.itfglobal.org/press-area/index.cfm/pressdetail/5950