Iranian Workers Bulletin Issue 17

by pat c Sat Mar 22, 2008 14:57

This is an extract from a letter to Irene Khan, General Secretary, Amnesty International regarding Mahmoud Salehi. Full text at the link.

March 20, 2008
Irene Khan,
General Secretary, Amnesty International,

Dear Ms. Irene Khan,

..Mahmoud Salehis... one year imprisonment and a three year suspended prison sentence, was
due to end on March 23, 2008. However, Mahmoud was taken from Sanandaj Prison to the department of justice in Sanandaj on March 17, 2008... They charged Mahmoud with communication and contacts with outside prison and issuing solidarity messages such as one to those on hunger strike on July 18, 2007 and also in supporting university students. Immediately Mahmoud went on dry hunger-strike to protest the violation of his rights. He has refused taking his vital prescribed medications and has announced that he will continue his total strike until he is freed from prison.

According to the latest reports, Mahmoud’s blood pressure has been at maximum 16 and
minimum 12. If his minimum and maximum blood pressures get closers or evens, his
remaining kidney would fail completely and his life would be seriously endangered.
We... are asking Amnesty International as well as Doctors without Border and labour unions
and human rights organizations to increase pressures on Iranian authorities to
immediately release Salehi and facilitate his treatment effectively and urgently. As the
Committee in Defense of Mahmud Salehi, we hold the authorities of the Iranian
government responsible for Salehi’s life. They must be hold accountable and liable for
anything that might happen to Mahmoud.

Sincerely,

Committee in Defense of Mahmoud Salehi
March 20, 2008 (Farvardin 1st, 1387)

cc: International Trade Union Confederation
Doctors without Border [Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF)]
International Transport Workers’ Federation
Labour and human rights organizations

by Drew - World Peoples Resistance Movement Wed Mar 05, 2008 17:51

That is quite an impressive number of speaking engagements. Perhaps some of those that are raising objections to HOPI will attend and present their arguments.

by pat c Tue Mar 04, 2008 14:15

Dali Jeyran, an Iranian is a women’s and political rights activist recently arrived from Iran. She has been involved in the struggles against the government there. She has been involved in solidarity work with trade unionists and students and also campaigned for prisoner’s rights. She has been at the forefront of providing information about what is happening in Iran out to activists abroad. She is also opposed to any war or sanctions on Iran.

She will be speaking at the following meetings:

Wed 5th March Lourdes Youth & Community Services in Rutland Street at 1 pm.

Thursday 6th March:

10.30am in St Helena's House, St Helena's Road, Finglas South,

12.30pm in Project West CDP, Barry Shops, Finglas West, Dublin 11

2.00pm in Rosehill House, Finglas Village

Come along and hear the truth about Iran from a real activist.

by pat c Tue Mar 04, 2008 14:01

Contrary to propaganda issued by supporters of Iranian Dictatorship the ITF actually has an anti-imperialist record.

The policy of the ITF is to defend Cuba and Venezuela from Imperialist attack. This motion was adopted at the 2006 ITF Congress.

The 41st Congress of the ITF, meeting in Durban from 2-9 August 2006:

1. IS DEEPLY CONCERNED over possible attempts by outside governments, using all means at their disposal, to interfere with and to subvert the Bolivarian government in the run-up to the December 2006 presidential elections in Venezuela,

2. ACKNOWLEDGES the huge popular support for President Chavez’s government and its social programmes,

3. IS ALSO CONCERNED at the continued illegal blockade of Cuba, despite repeated UN General Assembly resolutions, passed with overwhelming majorities and almost no opposition, demanding the total, immediate and unconditional lifting of the blockade,

4. IS ALSO CONCERNED that, at a conservative estimate, this blockade has cost the Cuban people in the region of 40 billion dollars. It extends to every conceivable item of clothing, raw material, manufactured goods, essential foodstuffs and medicines,

5. RESOLVES to oppose intervention in Venezuela and Cuba’s internal affairs including any threat of military intervention, and to lobby to prevent any such intervention,

6. RESOLVES to oppose violations of human and trade union rights anywhere in the region and the world,

7. EXPRESSES its support for the sovereignty and self-determination of these nations.

http://www.itfglobal.org/congress/resolutions.cfm#t18

I would say that the ITF has not gone far enough on Iran, it has not explicitly condemned US imperialist aggression towards Iran. However given the ITFs position on Cuba & Venezuela it would be ridiclious to suggest it is pro-imperialist.

by pat c Tue Mar 04, 2008 10:47

Here are some other expressions of concern for Mahmoud Salehi health.

The ITUC and the ITF are organising a global action day on 6 March 2008 to express our solidarity with Iranian workers once again. We want Mansour Osanloo and Mahmoud Salehi released immediately and unconditionally from prison. Their health conditions are deteriorating.

http://www.labourstart.org/cgi-bin/solidarityforever/sh...c=339

Iran: Prisoner of conscience: Mahmoud Salehi

Mahmoud Salehi has been detained since April 9, 2007. He has only one kidney and suffers from kidney stones, and requires chronic dialysis treatment.

http://www.defendinternational.com/index.php?option=com...id=73

Jailed Iranian trade unionist requires urgent medical treatment

Mahmoud Salehi has long suffered persecution by the Iranian authorities, spending several periods in prison because of their legitimate and peaceful activities as trade union activists and human rights defenders. He began his sentence on 9 April 2007. Amnesty International considers him a prisoner of conscience and is concerned for his health.Mahmoud Salehi has long-term medical concerns. A request by his doctor in May 2007 that he be accorded specialist treatment outside the prison has been ignored. He suffers from chronic kidney disease, for which he requires dialysis.

http://www.amnesty.org.uk/actions_details.asp?ActionID=386

"The release of Madadi and Dehghan is very good news," Labor Rights Now President Don Stillman said. "But we once again urge the Government of Iran to release Mahmoud Salehi, who remains in prison despite his deteriorating health."

http://www.laborrightsnow.org/iran.html

Mahmoud Salehi, who was the leader of the Bakers' union in Saqez, became well known when he organised the May Day demonstrations in 2004. With six other leaders, he was sentenced to four years in prison, a verdict suspended subject to appeal this spring. In April, he was arrested in an attempt to prevent May Day demonstrations, particularly in Kurdistan. His wife and son have recently made public appeals to release him, since his health is rapidly deteriorating. Salehi has only one kidney and the other is only functioning at 50 per cent, partly as a result of rough treatment during previous arrests.

http://socialistworld.net/eng/2007/07/01iran.html

by Joe Mon Mar 03, 2008 20:39

This 'story' is pathetic and hardly qualifies as a story. The sum total of this 'story' is that a guy who was in prison it still in prison. Wow! You claim his health is deteriorating but give no substantiation other than the propaganda paper of the same 'labour' movement.