The regime in Iran continues to harass and imprison labour activists ahead of May Day
Prior to May Day 2020, the Islamic regime in Iran has been harassing and summoning labour activists to prison to prevent them from organising any May Day events. From 8th April to 18th April, the Intelligence service of the Revolutionary Guards Corps (IRGC) had made phone calls to the labour activists and threatened that they will be arrested if they plan or attend May Day events. We ask you to take urgent action to support these labour activists.
Parvin Mohamadi, the Vice President of the Free Union of Workers in Iran (FUWI) has been sentenced to jail but is currently released on bail. The regime has been exerting further pressure to stop her activities by threatening to confiscate her home Mohamadi’s house was previously taken as bail money for the labour activist Jafar Azizmzadeh who is a well-known union leader and the president of the Free Workers Union of Iran. Azimzadeh is now serving a 6-year prison sentence and has also been sentenced to 30 lashes. Numbers of labour activists are in prison across Iran, and their families are being harassed for attempting to publicise their situation..
The outbreak of COVID-19 has resulted in a number of infected prisoners, which is continuing to rise. While the rest of the world is practising social distancing, numbers of labour activists have been summoned to prison to serve their jail sentences. These activists include:
Parvin Mohamadi, the Vice President of the FUWI
Nahid Khodajoo, a member of the board of directors of FUWI, who was arrested in the May Day event in 2019 in Tehran. She has been sentenced to 6 years jail, 74 lashes, and a two-year ban from membership of any political or social parties or groups
Nasrin Javadi, a member of the founding board of the Social Security Retirement Labour Council, and a member of FUWI activist arrested for participating in the May Day event in 2019. She has been sentenced to 7 years in prison and 74 lashes
Shahpour Ehsanira, a member of FUWI, sentenced to 6 years in prison and two years of exile in Sistan and Baluchestan
Mahmoud Beheshti Langroudi, spokesperson for Iranian Teachers’ Trade Association sentenced to five years in prison
Esmael Abdi, union leader and the secretary-general for the Iranian Teachers’ Trade Association sentenced to 6 years in prison
Nahid Fath-olian, a member of the Iranian Teachers’ Trade Association was arrested in April and has been transferred to an unknown location
Many labour activists in Iran are kept in prison and already serving the unjust sentences imposed on them. While the outbreak of COVID-19 has created an overwhelming and life-threatening condition across Iran, the jailed activists are denied the right to furlough and numbers of labour activists, such as above mentioned names, have either been summoned to serve their sentences or have been threatened to be arrested should they organise or attend any May Day events. In Karaj Central Prison where Mehdi Farahi-Shandiz, a labour activist, is held with hundreds of prisoners, at least two prisoners show severe COVID-19 symptoms daily. Prisoners are not tested for COVID-19 and if they do not receive any medical attention and they are not isolated. Jafar Azimzadeh, the president letter of the Free Workers Union of Iran who is currently in Evin prison, describes in his letter, the appalling condition of his ward and the high risk frimCOVID-19.
Despite the outbreak of COVID-19, the regime in Iran has persistently refused to release political prisoners, and in addition to this they keep arresting and summoning rights activists to prison. It has become clear that the regime has intentionally denied political prisoners the rights to temporary release. There has been a systematic and deliberate attempt by the Islamic regime in recent years to exterminate political prisoners. It is better for them if the political prisoners die of COVID-19 and other illnesses in prison than being executed which could cause an international outcry and controversy.
We therefore ask you and your union to support labour activists by sending a letter to the regime in Iran and demand:
All jailed workers must be immediately and unconditionally released
The threat and violence against labour activists and their families in Iran must be stopped
Workers in Iran must be allowed to hold May Day events without being threatened or arrested
Workers in Iran must be able to freely exercise their fundamental right including to set up their organisations, to organise and take part in rallies, assemblies, and protests, and to organise strike actions
Your immediate and urgent action to stop this is more important than ever now
Campaign to Free Political Prisoners in Iran (CFPPI)
Shiva Mahbobi, Spokesperson
For more information:
+44(0) 7572356661