February 18th, 2010
admin
18 February 2010
The ITF is glad to report that Mansour Osanloo has been removed from solitary confinement and returned to the general section of Iran’s Rajai Shahr prison. His removal earlier this week to a solitary cell, apparently as part of an increasing attempt to intimidate him, was met by immediate protests by the ITF and others.
Mac Urata, Secretary of the ITF’s Inland Transport Section, commented: “Such a speedy response to the outrage that was voiced at the stepping up of the campaign to break Mansour’s spirit is gratifying. It’s a relief that he is out of immediate danger. It also underlines the importance of international opinion and solidarity.”
“However, even a positive move like this does not obscure the fact that Mansour should not be in prison in the first place. Whatever promises the Iranian authorities may make to the international community and the UN ring hollow when trade unionists like Mansour Osanloo and Ebrahim Madadi are imprisoned on trumped-up charges.”
In July 2007 Mansour Osanloo, President of the ITF-affiliated Vahed Syndicate (Tehran Bus Workers’ Union) was dragged from a Tehran bus by armed men who only weeks later were identified as Iranian security forces. This followed previous attacks and intimidation and happened only three weeks after visiting the ITF and union organisations in London and Brussels.
In October of that year Osanloo was sentenced to five years imprisonment on charges of ‘acting against national security’ and ‘propaganda against the state’. In reality his only ‘crime’ has been to help found a genuinely democratic trade union for his fellow bus drivers.
ENDS
For more information contact ITF press officer, Sam Dawson.
Direct line: + 44 (0)20 7940 9260.
Email: dawson_sam@itf.org.uk
International Transport Workers’ Federation – ITF:
HEAD OFFICE
ITF House, 49 – 60 Borough Road, London SE1 1DS
Tel: + 44 (0) 20 7403 2733
Fax: + 44 (0) 20 7375 7871
Email: mail@itf.org.uk
Web: www.itfglobal.org
http://www.itfglobal.org/press-area/index.cfm/pressdetail/4216
February 18th, 2010
admin
17 February 2010
Amnesty International today criticised Iran for rejecting important recommendations by the United Nations to improve human rights in the country.
The recommendations rejected by Iran include: ending the execution of juvenile offenders; upholding fair trial guarantees, investigating torture allegations, including rape and releasing people detained for peacefully exercising their human rights. Read more…
February 16th, 2010
admin
15 February 2010
The ITF has condemned the latest reported targeting of imprisoned trade union leader Mansour Osanloo by the Iranian authorities.
Sources within Iran are reporting that Osanloo and another political prisoner at the Rajai Shar prison have been questioned, threatened and are being moved into solitary confinement. Early indications are that the reports are correct.
Speaking from Geneva, where he is attending the United Nations Universal Periodic Review* on Iran’s human rights record, Mac Urata, ITF Inland Transport Secretary, described the move as “a slap in the face of world opinion”. Read more…
February 15th, 2010
admin
The International Federation of Journalists today added its voice to international protests over Iran at the United Nations in Geneva with renewed demands for jailed journalists to be set free.
Iranian human rights organisations and activists were joined by international labour groups in a demonstration outside the United Nations offices in Geneva in order to highlight the widespread and persistent violations of human rights in Iran. Read more…
February 15th, 2010
admin
February 10, 2010
To: Human Rights Council of the United Nations
In the 7th session of the United Nations’ rotational review of human rights on 15th to 17th of February 2010 in its headquarters in Geneva, the human rights situation in Iran is being reviewed.
The beginning of this session coincides with the 4th anniversary of international solidarity with the imprisoned workers of the Iranian Transit Company. On 15 February 2006, many international workers and members of trade unions expressed their support of those detained workers and raised their protesting voices against the anti-union activities in Iran, to the authorities of the Islamic Republic of Iran (IRI). Read more…
February 15th, 2010
admin
While 4 convicted leaders of the independent Haft Tapeh sugarworkers union in Iran have now been freed, President Ali Nejati remains in prison, where he could spend two years or more on charges of ‘endangering national security’. Union Communications Officer Reza Rakhshan is stiill awaiting final sentencing for his conviction last year on similar charges. READ MORE
Iranian-Kurdish teacher trade unionist Farzad Kamangar is facing the threat of imminent execution. Please add your name to the Education International protest, and ask friends and colleagues to do the same.
http://www.ei-ie.org/form/20080818_en.php
