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On Feb. 15, 2008, CUPE wrote to Iran’s three top leaders, including president Mahmoud Ahmadinejad to call for the immediate and unconditional release from prison of several student and labour activists, some rumoured to have been tortured.

CUPE National has learned from groups close to their families that more than 40 student activists are being detained in the notorious Evin prison in Tehran and elsewhere. The students were arrested for holding political protests.

“Surely, this cannot be the kind of human rights reputation that you wish for your country on the international stage,” the letter says. “We urge you to act now to secure the release of the political prisoners. We further implore you to insure that all torture and other cruel treatment of prisoners cease immediately and permanently.”

The letter also argues for the release of labour activists, among them Mahmud Saalehi, Mansour Osaanlou and Ebraahim Madadi. As well, “we are aware that many women have been jailed because they have resisted the current Iranian government.”

Late last year, CUPE joined protesters outside the Iranian embassy in Ottawa to demonstrate a profound concern for the arrest and cruel treatment of political activists in Iran’s prisons.

The letter, signed by National President Paul Moist and National Secretary-Treasurer Claude Genereux, was copied to a range of organizations fighting for the release of the prisoners and the broader cause of social justice in Iran.

Write a letter online (labourstart.org) 

Watch for more details on the March 6 international day of solidarity with the workers in Iran.

Copy of letter