Justice for Iranian Workers

Today, July 05, 2010 (14th of Tir, 1389), marks the 27th day of the arrest of Saeed Torabian and the 24th day of the arrest of Reza Shahabi.  Throughout this time, Reza Shahabi has contacted his family by telephone only once.  On the afternoon of the arrest of Saeed Torabian, security agents descended upon his mother’s home and thoroughly inspected it.  Mr. Torabian suffers from heart disease and was hospitalized last year due to a  heart attack.  He has not been heard from since his arrest, and noone has any knowledge of his fate or whereabouts.

In the meantime, on 9 of Tir, 1389 (Wed. 30 June 2010), Mr. Mansour Osanloo was charged with new crimes and transferred to Branch 6 of the Karaj Judiciary. In addition, an individual representing himself as a security agent has been telephoning Mr. Reza Shahabi’s wife and stating that she needs to report to a particular branch of the Security agency in order to answer questions that could potentially enable agents to release (!) Mr. Shahabi.  Another member of the Vahed Syndicate has also been contacted and summoned in a similar manner.

The Syndicate of Workers of the Tehran and Suburbs (Vahed) Bus Drivers expresses grave concern for the physical condition of Mr. Torabian, and warns against efforts to pad his record and Mr. Torabian’s record with new false charges.  In addition, the Syndicate also warns against the opening of a new case or filing new charges against Mansour Osanloo, and vehemently condemns any extension of prison terms and increased pressure upon the members of the Syndicate’s Board of Directors and their family members.
The Syndicate further demands the immediate and unconditional release of Messrs. Torabian, Shahabi, Madadi, and Osanloo, and other imprisoned workers.

With hopes of the expansion of peace and justice throughout the world,
The Syndicate of Workers of the Tehran and Suburbs (Vahed) Bus Drivers
14 Tir 1389 (5 July 2010)

1 July 2010

Labour organisations have today welcomed an Iranian government promise to release Tehran bus unionist Mansour Osanloo – but pointed to the fact that 52 other innocent trade unionists should also be freed.

The ITF and the International Trade Union Confederation (ITUC) issued a statement after it was revealed that the Iranian government had informed the International Labour Organization (ILO) that Osanloo was due for release. The assurance is contained in the ILO’s report on complaints made against the country by the ITF and the ITUC. It is understood from the report that the Iranian labour and social affairs minister had called for Osanloo to be pardoned and that the head of the judiciary had accepted the minister’s request. The ILO committee also anticipates that these developments will lead to Osanloo’s imminent release.

The ITF and ITUC were quick to welcome the news, but reminded the Iranian president that their complaints against Iran’s abuses against trade unionists would not be silenced by the long overdue release of one man. The general secretaries of the two organisations, David Cockroft and Sharan Burrow wrote to the Iranian president, stating:

“We welcome both the news of this commitment and the commitment itself. In the light of this promise, made by your officials to the ILO, we therefore request your immediate and unconditional intervention on this matter. The promised release of Mansour Osanloo will be an important first step by your government towards rebuilding the confidence of the international trade union community. We must, however, also strongly remind you of the need to address the other cases of those unjustly punished for undertaking legal trade union activities.”

The ITF also highlighted the fact that while it welcomed Osanloo’s release, it rejected the description of this as a “pardon” because he had committed no crime. In addition, the federation again condemned the continued imprisonment of other Tehran bus unionists, Ebrahim Madadi, Reza Shahbi and Saeed Torabian.