Mahmoud Salehi Released!

by pat c Wed Apr 09, 2008 18:08

Here is a statement from Amnesty and other campagners on the release of Mahmoud Salehi. Full text at the link.

The ITUC, ITF and Amnesty International today welcomed the release on Sunday from Sanandaj prison, in Iran’s Kuridstan Province, of independent labour activist Mahmoud Salehi, after one year of imprisonment. Salehi, one of the co-founders of the Bakery Workers Trade Union in Saqez, had been the object of strong international lobbying by the international trade union and human rights’ organisations since 2007, when the ITUC, ITF and Amnesty International launched a series of joint demonstrations and protests in front of Iranian embassies around the world.

The ITUC, ITF and Amnesty International express their satisfaction at Salehi’s release, but remind Iran’s authorities that Mahmoud Osanloo and other unjustly imprisoned trade unionists must be freed and all other threats of imprisonment against independent trade unionists for their legitimate activities be lifted. The International Labour Organisation (ILO) is expected next month to examine a number of international trade union complaints lodged against the Iranian government for violations of the internationally-guaranteed right to form and join trade unions.

by pat c Wed Apr 09, 2008 18:20

Here is an update regarding Mahmoud Salehi. Full text at the link.

In his first interview two days after his release from prison, Mahmoud Salehi told a report from Dastranj that the labour movement in Iran has been striving for achievement of its basic demands and that his activities during the past two decades have been for this purpose and despite many obstructions he has continued these activities for the realization of the working class goals and objectives. Salehi emphasized that such restrictions will not prevent or affect his efforts in defense of workers’ rights and demands.

It’s important to report that almost all progressive and labour organizations inside Iran and abroad have sent solidarity messages for Salehi’s freedom. His freedom was reported by many international news agencies, such as BBC and Deutsche Welle, as well as numerous progressive websites, including LabourStart which has been organizing numerous campaigns for Salehi’s and Osanloo’s freedom. Labour organizations and unions around the world, from Pakistan and Australia to Geneva have expressed their support and joy for Salehi’s release. The ITUC, ITF and Amnesty International, who have also been campaigning for the freedom of both Salehi and Osanloo, today welcomed the release of Mahmoud Salehi. The Syndicate of Workers of Tehran and Suburbs Vahed Bus Company have issued a solidarity statement for Salehi’s release, congratulating his freedom and expressing hope for the release of Mansour Osanloo, the president of the Vahed Syndicate, who has been in jail since July 2007 and sentenced to 5 year imprisonment.

We now need to redouble our efforts to ensure Osanloo is freed as soon as possible and that Salehi would stay outside prison and all charges against him fully withdrawn. Just today, two other members of the board of Vahed syndicate, Saeed Torabian and Mohammad Ebrahim Norouzi Gohari, were taken to the court regarding their union activities including the distribution of the union’s newspaper. They were freed subsequently and it’s not clear whether they would receive charges or not. These kinds of harassment and persecution of labour activists have become a routine form of control and repression.

by pat c Thu Jun 19, 2008 13:53

Here is the latest news regarding Mansour Osanlou. Full text at link.

Mansour Osanlou, the imprisoned president of Tehran Bus Union was admitted to the Cardiac Care Unit of Labafinejad hospital in Tehran, on June 9, 2008, HR and Democracy Activists in Iran reported. Mr. Osanlou underwent eye surgery for the third time, recently. They said Mansour was handcuffed and guarded by armed security forces in the hospital at time of the surgery.The report says that the security forces intended to tie Mr. Osanlou’s hands and feet to the surgical bed by a handcuff but have dispensed with his opposition.

Mansour is still under intensive care while armed security forces do not leave his sight. Judiciary officials refuse to give Mansour Osanlou, medical leave, despite the Medical Examiner’s recommendations.

Mr. Osanlou’s mother has recently made two separate attempts to negotiate a possible medical leave for his son but failed.It is believed that Mansour Osanlou’s eye problem has deteriorated during the multiple and brutal investigations while in jail. He also suffers from skin problems.

Note: Vahed Syndicate’s website has posted a report from Human Rights Defending organization in Iran in which it says that medical and security officials of Evin prison have made an attempt on June 14, 2008 to transfer Mansour Osanlou to another Tehran hospital but faced strong opposition by Mr. Osanlo and the cardiac medical experts in Labafinejad hospital.

http://socialist-blogs-news.blogspot.com/2008/06/iran-mansour-osanloo-was-admitted-to.html