The deaths, torture and unjust detainments of trade unionists and students that have become routine in Iran have spurred activists and the families of those injured or jailed to call for a week of action on Feb. 2-9.
The week of international protest will highlight the worrying condition of over 50 jailed students in Iran. One student was killed, according to reports circulating by email last week.
Prison reports “speak of long and severe interrogation sessions by the feared Information Ministry officials, with many students being tortured and kept in solitary confinement,” the email messages say.
As reported here previously, many labour and women’s rights activists continue to be detained and persecuted. The messages say “There are grave concerns over the health of labour leader Mahmoud Salehi, who is still being held in prison despite a life-threatening kidney condition. Mansoor Ossanlou, the leader of Tehran’s bus workers’ union, is still in prison following his violent abduction last July by the security forces.”
Also, says the messages, “Ali Reza Hashemi, a teachers’ leader, has just been handed a three-year prison sentence for trade union activities, and many of his colleagues are being persecuted for last year’s strikes and protests over pay and conditions.”
To learn more and to join the week of action, go to http://www.workers-iran.org/