Education International is deeply troubled to hear reports that Iranian teacher trade unionist Farzad Kamangar was among five people who were summarily executed in secret on 9 May.

Farzad Kamangar, a 35-year-old married man and member of the Teachers’ Union of Kurdistan, was accused of “endangering national security” and “enmity against God”. He had lived with the threat of the death penalty since February 2008, when it was imposed upon him after a sham trial that lasted less than five minutes.

Although the Iranian authorities had accepted Farzad’s appeal, the case stalled when it should have been sent to the Supreme Court for review. After further delays, Farzad’s lawyer was told that his file had been lost. Despite the evident lack of independent inquiry into the allegations and the absence of a fair judicial process, Farzad has still been reportedly executed.

EI General Secretary, Fred van Leeuwen, said: “We are all deeply shocked and saddened to hear that Farzad has been executed. His case was particularly troubling to our 30 million members because of the opaque and secretive manner in which his trial was conducted, the lack of basic rights he had access to whilst in prison, and the fact that neither his family or legal representatives were informed of his execution. This is a terrible day for teachers, union activists and human rights. EI expresses our solidarity with Farzad’s family, colleagues and students.”

He added: “EI recognises the rights and responsibilities of all governments to bring to justice those suspected of criminal offences but this must be in line with international and national standards of fair trial. EI is also unequivocal that the Iranian government must ensure respect for all trade union and human rights.”

The trade union and human rights community had campaigned against the death penalty and prosecution of Farzad. EI and its affiliates have been particularly vocal and lobbied the ILO Committee on Freedom of Association, which subsequently ‘urge[d] the Government [of Iran] to immediately stay the execution of Farzad Kamangar’s death sentence, annul his conviction and secure his release from detention.’

Call for action:

• EI is joining international networks and campaigns to remember Farzad and support other Iranian teachers and union activists, including Rasoul Bodaghi, Hashem Khastar and Bahman Goudarzzade, who remain in prison within Iran.
• EI is writing to the Supreme Leader and Iranian authorities to request a transparent investigation into the execution of Farzad and to halt any further executions.
• EI is informing and calling on all EI affiliates to write to their respective country’s foreign office to express their shock at the execution of Farzad, to call for open and fair trials, and an end to the death penalty.
• EI is encouraging its affiliates to hold vigils to mark the sad news of the death of Farzad

Source http://www.ei-ie.org/en/news/show.php?id=1254&theme=rights&country=iran

The ITUC has also denounced the inhumane treatment of Farzad Kamangar’s family, who were not informed before the execution took place.

The ITUC has already written to the president of Iran on several occasions to strongly condemn attacks by the Iranian authorities on independent trade unions in the country and the intensification of repression against the Iranian people in general and trade unionists in particular and to protest against the latest wave of repression that has targeted trade unionists in this country.

“The ITUC is shocked with what happened to Farzad Kamangar. Imprisoned trade unionists must be freed and all other threats of imprisonment against independent trade unionists for their legitimate activities must be lifted,” said Guy Ryder, ITUC general secretary.

In a letter to the Iranian authorities the ITUC urges the Iranian president to halt any further escalation of trade union repression and human rights abuses against trade union members. The ITUC will complain to the ILO Committee on Freedom of Association about this gross violation of the principles of the ILO, and it will call on all of its affiliates across the entire world to denounce this inhumane act.

Source http://www.ituc-csi.org/iran-execution-of-a-trade-unionist.html

This morning it is being reported that teacher Farzad Kamangar, with four other Iranian Kurds, has been executed for “crimes against the state”.

Source http://enduringamerica.com/2010/05/09/iran-farzad-kamangars-last-letter-is-it-possible-to-teach-and-be-silent/

Two weeks ago, the Human Rights Activists News Agency published a parable written by Kamangar in prison. His explanation: “Eight years ago, the grandmother of one of my students, Yassin, in the village of Marab, played the tape of the story of the teacher Mamoosta Ghootabkhaneh. She told me then, ‘I know that your fate, like the teacher who is the writer and recorder of this poem, is execution; but be strong comrade.’ The grandmother said those words as she puffed on her cigarette and stared at the mountains.”

*****

Once upon a time, there was a mother fish who laid 10,000 eggs. Only one little black fish survived. He lives in a stream with his mother.

One day the little fish said to his mother, “I want to go away from here.” The mother asked, “Where to?” The little fish replied, “I want to go see where the stream ends.”
[Little Black Fish is the title of a short storyfor children, written in 1967 by the dissident teacher Samad Behrangi. The book was banned under the Shah’s regime. It tells the story and adventures of a little fish who defies the rules of his community to embark on a journey to discover the sea.]

Hello cellmates. Hello fellow mates of pain!

I know you well: you are the teacher, the neighbour to the stars of Khavaran [the cemetery in eastern Tehran where many political dissidents were executed during the 1980's and buried in mass unmarked graves[, the classmates of dozens whose essays were attached to their legal cases, the teacher of students whose crime was their humane thoughts. I know you well: you are colleagues of Samad and Ali Khan. You remember me too, right?

It is me, the one chained in Evin prison.

It is me, the quiet student who sits behind the broken school benches and longs to see the sea while in a remote village in Kurdistan. It is me, who like you, told the tales of Samad to his students; but in the heart of the Shahoo Mountains [in Kurdistan].

It is me who loves to take on the role of the little black fish.

It is me, your comrade on death row.

Now, the valleys and mountains are behind him and the river passes though a plain field. From the left and the right side, other rivers have joined in and the river now is filled with more water. The little fish enjoyed the abundance of water…the little fish wanted to go to the bottom of the river. He was able to swim as much as he wanted and not bump into anything.

Suddenly, he spotted a large group of fish. There were 10,000 of them, one of whom told the little black fish, “Welcome to the sea, comrade!”

My jailed colleagues! Is it possible to sit behind the same desk as Samad, look into the eyes of the children of this land, and still remain silent?

Is it possible to be a teacher and not show the path to the sea to the little fish of the country? What difference does it make if they come from Aras [a river in northwestern Iran, Azerbaijan], Karoon [a river in southwestern Iran, Khuzestan], Sirvan [a river in Kurdistan], or Sarbaz Rood [a river in the Sistan and Baluchestan region]? What difference does it make when the sea is a mutual destiny, to be united as one? The sun is our guide. Let our reward be prison, that is fine!

Is it possible to carry the heavy burden of being a teacher and be responsible for spreading the seeds of knowledge and still be silent? Is it possible to see the lumps in the throats of the students and witness their thin and malnourished faces and keep quiet?

Is it possible to be in the year of no justice and fairness and fail to teach the H for Hope and E for Equality, even if such teachings land you in Evin prison or result in your death?

I cannot imagine being a teacher in the land of Samad, Khan Ali, and Ezzati and not join the eternity of Aras [Samad Behrangi drowned in the river in 1968]. I cannot imagine witnessing the pain and poverty of the people of this land and fail to give our hearts to the river and the sea, to roar and to inundate.

I know that one day this harsh and uneven road will be paved for teachers and the suffering you endured will be a badge of honour so everyone can see that a teacher is a teacher, even if his or her path is blocked by the selection process, prison, and execution. The little black fish and not the heron bestows honour on the teacher.

The Little Fish calmly swam in the sea and thought: Facing death is not hard for me, nor is it regrettable.

Suddenly the heron swooped down and grabbed the little fish.

Grandma Fish finished her story and told her 12,000 children and grandchildren that it was time for bed. 11,999 little fish said good night and went to bed. The grandmother went to sleep as well. One little red fish was not able to sleep. That fish was deep in thought.

A teacher on death row, Evin prison

Farzad Kamangar

April 2010

Farzad Kamangar’s explanation on the title of his letter:

Eight years ago, the grandmother of one of my students, Yassin, in the village of Marab, played the tape of the story of the teacher Mamoosta Ghootabkhaneh. She told me then, “I know that your fate, like the teacher who is the writer and recorder of this poem, is execution; but be strong comrade. The grandmother said those words as she puffed on her cigarette and stared at the mountains.

*****

ATU, USA

This is a message of solidarity from ATU (Amalgamated Transit Union) Local 1005. We cover the bus drivers and train drivers in the Minneapolis and St. Paul area also known as the Twin Cities. We support the struggles of our Union brothers and sisters in Iran who have to work underground and face extreme oppression. Your actions are a shining light to workers around the world of what can be accomplished even under extreme oppression. And with the economic crisis and the recent events that have shaken Iran we wanted to let you know that on the other side of the world we are watching and supporting you. Keep your heads up and Keep fighting! Solidarity (Ryan Timlin, ATU 1005)

Australia – University of Notre Dame

We had a small ceremony on 26 June to mark the day of action led by our university chaplain. In solidarity (Email report by Richard)
*****

Korea

The Korea Automobile Workers’ Union used their seminar on 26 June to discuss the Iranian issues. The seminar adopted a resolution in solidarity with the Iranian workers. (Email report by H K Kim)

Japan

A representative of the Japanese national centre, Rengo, delivered the unions’ message to the Iranian Embassy in Tokyo today (2 July) after the mission made no response to their request for a meeting on 26 June. In the past, senior officials have met with union representatives to discuss matters related to trade union rights in Iran. (Phone report by Shigi Wada)

Jordan

Representatives from the Jordanian Aviation Workers’ Union visited the Iranian Embassy in Amman on 28 June, however the delegation was refused a meeting and instead the police were called. The union had requested a meeting in advance but no confirmation had been received from the Embassy. (Bilal Malkawi)

Bulgaria

In Sofia, the representative of FTTUB waited three hours at the Iranian Embassy to obtain acknowledgement of receipt of the letter that the union delivered to the Embassy. In the end, no confirmation was made by the Embassy. (Report by Slava Petrova)

*****

USA

Education International’s US affiliate, National Education Association (NEA) has  sent the attached letter to State Secretary Hillary Clinton.

*****

France

Around 200 representatives from CGT, CFDT and Amnesty International took part in a rally in front of the Iranian Embassy in Paris on 26 June. Speeches were given to explain the background to the global campaign and the situation in Iran. A protest letter was submitted to the Embassy. (Email and phone report by Patrick Vancraeyenest)

Austria

Vida and Amnesty International organised a joint action at the Donauinselfest (Danube Island Festival) open-air event from 26 to 28 June. At the union’s Youth Department information desk, signatures were collected on a petition for Iranian trade unionists. The joint information desk will also be set-up at the ÖGB Congress which is due to start later today. Participants to the Congress will be encouraged to sign the petition, which the union and Amnesty will submit to the Iranian Embassy. (Email and phone report by Eva Müller)

Poland

A group of unionists picketed the Iranian embassy and displayed names of repressed trade unionists. The union also sent protest faxes to the Iranian authorities. (Email report by Laure)

Mexico

Port workers of the Union de Estibadores y Jornaleros del Puerto de Veracruz sent a letter in solidarity with the workers in Iran. (Email report by Ramon Alomia)

*****

Burma

Seafarers Union of Burma (SUB) joined the Action Day by sending their protest letter to the Iranian leader. (Email report by Aung Thu Ya)

Bulgaria

The FTTUB has written to the Iranian governement as well as to the Iranian embassy in Sofia expressing their disappointment towards the authorities’ treatment of independent trade union organizations in Iran. The letter appeals for a democratic development in Iran including respect for freedom of association. FTTUB is using their website to describe the situation in Iran to their members. (Email report by Slava Petrova)
Australia – Melbourne

The Victorian branch of the RTBU handed out a number of pamphlets to the public on the Acion Day at one of the busiest railway stations, Parliament, during the peek hours of 6.45am to 9.00am. The response was very good. (Email report by John Higgins)
Belgium – Brussels, Gent

Members of BTB-ABVV have organised their “silent protest” in Brussels and Gent on the Action Day. (Email report by Dinneke Fleerackers)

*****

Morocco

UMT organised a meeting in Casablanca for local union representatives and activists on 26 June to highlight the message “Justice for Iranian Workers”. Awareness about the Action Day had initially been raised at a meeting of the Federation members on 20 June. (Email report by Said Saddik)

Canada – Toronto

From 6pm on 26 June in Toronto, the Students Labour Solidarity Group held a rally which the Canadian Labour Congress (CLC) supported. Over 1,000 unionists, human right activists and the Iranian community people gathered at the Mal Lastman Square. Members of the Federal and provincial political parties, union and other organisations spoke to emphasize the importance of solidarity with the Iranian people and workers. Several groups of musicians made some vibrant performance during the event. (Email report by Mehdi Kouhestaninejad)

Czech Republic

On 25 June, the Czech Republic Section of Amnesty International held a demonstration in the front of the Iranian embassy in Prague to support the campaign. Several different groups such as “Students for Iran” and NGOs in Czech republic initiated this rally. More than 100 people took part. (Email report by Lenka Pitronova)

Sweden: Protesters stormed Iranian Embassy

A protest rally of around 150 people outside the Iranian Embassy in Stockholm turned into turmoil when they stormed the place by starting to tear down the fence and breaking the windows. Sixteen police units were called to the spot and were able to get the protesters out of the embassy area. One member of the embasy staff is said to be injured.

http://www.stockholmnews.com

Sweden’s Ambassador summoned by Iran

Iran summoned Sweden’s ambassador after yesterday’s turbulent protests outside the Iranian Embassy in Stockholm, the Iranian news agency Irna reports. The Swedish Ministry of Foreign Affairs confirms that ambassador Magnus Wernstedt has been summoned by the Iranian Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Teheran for a verbal protest.

http://www.stockholmnews.com

Twenty-six independent unions and other Iranian workers’ organisations released a statement in conjunction with the Action Day expressing appreciation for this solidarity.

The ITF was told that inside Iran, activists used the Internet to watch the list of participating countries grow longer and longer by the hour, and that this support left them feeling encouraged.

Reports from the events worldwide reported heightened sensitivity at Iranian embassies however, many of which refused to receive visitors bearing letters or petitions.

Directly before the 26 June Action Day, all except one of the trade unionists arrested during earlier May Day protests were released. However, Tehran’s independent bus union leaders Mansour Osanloo and Ebrahim Madadi are still detained along with education worker, Farzad Kamangar. Dozens of journalists are also behind bars in the wake of recent political unrest in Iran.

The action day, organised by the ITF together with the ITUC (International Trade Union Confederation), EI (Education International), and IUF (International Union of Food, Agricultural, Hotel, Restaurant, Catering, Tobacco and Allied Workers’ Associations) drew attention to Iranian workers’ rights and to human rights; it also focused trade union concerns over the current political crisis, following presidential elections in Iran. Amnesty International (AI) backed the action.

Rallies and protests involving ITF affiliated unions took place in New Zealand, Australia, Japan, Hong Kong, Indonesia, Thailand, India, Morocco, Austria, Belgium, Italy, Turkey, United Kingdom, Norway and Canada, among others. A rally in Toronto saw a turnout of well over 1,000 people.

AI was responsible for initiatives in other countries including Czech Republic and in Denmark.

• For an ITF video covering the Action Day go to Youtube
• For photos posted by participants visit Flickr

• For more news about the event go to www.justiceforiranianworkers.org

Education International, together with other Global Unions and a hundred trade unionists and human rights activists, demonstrated on 26 June in front of the Iranian Embassy in Brussels to demand justice for Iranian workers.

Speakers included representatives of the International Trade Union Confederation (ITUC), EI, Amnesty International and the Belgian trade unions confederations CGSLB/ACLVB, CSC/ACV and FGTB/ABVV.

They all underlined the urgent need to continue the fight for Iranian workers’ fundamental freedoms at work – the right to organise, to hold trade union meetings and to bargain collectively. And to use guaranteed human and trade union rights as a foundation for building a democratic society.

EI Deputy General Secretary Jan Eastman regretted that the sole Iranian government’ response to all attempts by EI to engage in a dialogue “so far has been repression and arrests – followed by more repression and more arrests.”

“EI wants to support and represent Iranian teachers, who are seeking to join the 30 million in the EI family, as a fully fledged trade union member,” she said.

She emphasised that:

• Now is the time for trade union rights, in law and practice;
• Now is the time for the Government of Iran to: drop all charges against unionists relating to trade union protest action; annul their sentences; and compensate them for damages suffered as a result of these charges and convictions; and
• Now is the time to stay the execution of Iranian teacher unionist Farzad Kamangar’s death sentence, annul his conviction and secure his release from detention.

Eastman, in the name of the 30 million teachers represented by EI, also urged the Iranian authorities to:

• Release Sajad Khaksari, son of Mohamad Khaksari of the Iranian Teachers’ Trade Association; and
• Release Hashem Khastar, Jafar Ebrahimi, Alireza Hashemi, and many professors as yet unamed – all arrested since June 11.

“So far, we haven’t received any answer to our letters to the Iranian government,” said Jaap Wienen, ITUC Deputy General Secretary, before putting an letter addressed to the Iranian government from the International trade union movement in the Embassy’ mailbox, accompanied by Eastman and other trade union leaders. “We represent 200 million workers around the world. It is important we show solidarity. I hope we will not have to meet again here next year. But if necessary, we will!”

“EI demands that the Government of Iran stop arresting teachers – and instead, support them to do their job of educating the next generation for peaceful co-existence in a democratic and sustainable world, one in which all people have respect, dignity and hope for a decent life,” said Eastman.

Clearly these global and national trade unions will be back again next year if there is no change from the Government of Iran. They will continue to defend workers rights’ to freedom of assembly, of association and expression, in Iran and elsewhere.

Full coverage of the global action day is available at www.justiceforiranianworkers.org

Act Now! – CLICK HERE to send a message to the Iranian state and judicial authorities, calling on them to immediately and unconditionally annul the sentences against the Haft Tapeh sugar union leaders!

London Protest (ITF and TUC)

Canberra Protest (MUA) and Wellington Protest (RMTU)

Copenhagen Protest (Amnesty International Denmark)