News of whippings and unjust jail terms for Iranian trade unionists has prompted CUPE national leaders to write again to the president of Iran.
“We are appalled to learn of the recent whipping sentences and jail terms against labour activists in Iran,” wrote National President Paul Moist and National Secretary-Treasurer Claude Genereux
in a letter to President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad dated Aug. 20.CUPE’s sources report that Sousan Razani and Shiva Kheirabadi were sentenced to four months each in prison and 15 lashes, Abdullah Khani was sentenced to 91 days and 40 lashes and Seyed Qaleb Hosseini was sentenced to six months and 50 lashes.
The CUPE leaders were further informed that Khaled Hosseini, a worker activist, was sentenced to 91 days suspended jail and 30 lashes because of his efforts in support of Mahmoud Salehi who was in prison at the time. They also learned of the brutal treatment of Farzad Kamangar who was sentenced to death after a trial that lasted only seven minutes.
The letter also called for the release of Mansour Osanloo, the president of the bus workers’ union, who has been in prison since July 2007 serving a five-year sentence.
“The arrests and other actions are an attack on working people everywhere,” the letter said. “We urge you to repeal all charges and sentences against labour activists in Iran.”
To join the protest: http://www.labourstart.org/cgi-bin/solidarityforever/show_campaign.cgi?c=416