Change low graphic options | Change language | Skip content to navigation
Page context: Free Mansour Osanloo > ITF Protest Statement: 27 December 2008
Mr Mahmoud Ahmadjinejad
President of the Republic
The Presidency
Palestine Avenue, Azerbaijan Intersection
Tehran
Islamic Republic of Iran
FAX: +98 21 649 5880
Trade unionists and human rights activists around the world are once again appalled to learn that Ebrahim Madadi was arrested in Tehran today. According to his union, Vahed Syndicate, he was visiting the North Tehran Branch of the Employment Office when plain-clothes security personnel detained him with a court order and took into police custody. He is believed to be in one of the police branches tonight and is due to appear before the judge tomorrow morning. Meanwhile, two Executive Board members of the union are verbally summoned by the secret police.
Madadi, the Vice President of the union, was already arrested on the International Action Day, 9 August 2007, when worldwide protest action was taking place against Mansour Osanloo's abduction on the previous month after his return from his European visit. And although Madadi was given a three and a half year sentence in October, he was released from prison two months later. Furthermore, the court ordered the Tehran Bus Company to reinstate him in June 2008.
This is not the first time that the Iranian authorities have taken unjustified actions against genuine trade unions during the Christmas holidays. Less than a week ago, the trade unions condemned the arrest of Mohsen Hakimi, a member of the 'Iranian Writers Association' and the 'Coordinating Committee to Form Workers Organisations,' who was detained by the secret police for unknown charges. He is now being held in Section 209 in Evin Prison. On the previous week, an auto worker, Bijan Amiri, at Pars Khodro factory was also arrested for unknown charges.
In 2005, the entire leadership of Vahed Syndicate was arrested en masse during the last week of December. Undoubtedly, the Iranian government is well-aware of the persistent international pressure against their breach of the ILO Conventions on freedom of association and the right to negotiate collectively which is why they choose this time of the year to oppress the independent workers' movement.
The ITF, together with the ITUC and the entire global trade union movement requests the government of the Islamic Republic of Iran to release Ebrahim Madadi, Mohsen Hakimi, Bijan Amiri as well as Mansour Osanloo and Farzad Kamangar immediately and unconditionally. There is reason to have concern about Osanloo's health as we have received reports that he has not been given adequate medical treatment during the past two months.
We appeal to all those who have been campaigning to promote workers' rights in Iran to support this statement by adding your name and send your protest to the Iranian government
(dr-ahmadinejad@president.ir).
David Cockroft
General Secretary
International Transport Workers' Federation (ITF)
27 December 2008
Section home:
Free Mansour Osanloo
Other pages for Free Mansour Osanloo:
Archive: 6 March 2008 - Action Day | Watch the Film | Read the Latest News | Wear the Badge | Archive: 9 Aug 2007 - Action Day | Archive: 15 Feb 2006 - Action Day | Video: UK protests | Campaign Links
Main Sections:
Home | About us | Solidarity | Flags of Convenience campaign | Seafarers | Dockers | Civil Aviation | Railways | Road Transport | Urban Transport | Fisheries | Tourism | Inland Navigation | Education | Young Workers | Women | ETF Home | Congress 2010
Transport International Magazine
accessibility | site help | site map
ITF House, 49-60 Borough Road, London SE1 1DR | +44 20 7403 2733 | mail@itf.org.uk