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Special invitation to Mansour Osanloo
15 July 2010
The ITF has invited imprisoned Iranian bus workers’ leader Mansour Osanloo to the federation’s congress in Mexico, in the wake of a statement by the Iranian government that he would be released.
ITF general secretary David Cockroft last week sent Osanloo the special invitation to attend the congress in Mexico City from 5-12 August; it was addressed to Rajaie-Shahr prison in Karaj, where Osanloo is currently being held for his trade union activities.
In the letter Cockroft states: “We are aware that the Iranian government recently communicated to the International Labour Organization its intention to release you from prison in the near future. We cannot be sure that they will keep their word, in the light of previous experiences, but if there is any possibility that you will be free and able to travel internationally, I know that the entire ITF family will be ready to give you a very warm welcome in Mexico City.”
He continued: “So although the syndicate, as an ITF affiliate, will already have received a formal invitation to attend the congress, I would like to extend to you my personal invitation to participate in our 42nd congress as an honoured guest.”
The ITF and the global trade union movement have long been campaigning for the release of Osanloo and of all other trade unionists detained by the Iranian authorities; several unions, including the UK union Unite, have given Osanloo and Ebrahim Madadi, the union’s vice-president, honorary membership.
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