ITF decries detention of Ali Reza Saghafi

27 August 2008

ITF Assistant General Secretary Stuart Howard today condemned the detention in Evin prison of Iranian journalist Ali Reza Saghafi, saying: “Our information is that he was told to report to the authorities, then briefly ‘disappeared’, before they revealed that he is being held in Evin on unknown charges.”

He continued: “Ali Reza Saghafi is known for his incisive commentaries on trade union rights in Iran and there seems little doubt that this is what has made him a target. That a man of his calibre and bravery is the latest to be imprisoned shows how heavily the regime in Tehran is moving against free speech."

“If the authorities thought they could quietly remove a dissident voice at a delicate time then they’ve made a major error. It is just two months since Ali Reza spoke to the International Labour Conference of the ILO (International Labour Organization) in Geneva about just this kind of repression. His views won an international audience, all of whom will protest his arrest.’

According to information received by the ITF - which has been at the forefront of the struggle to protect Iranian trade unionists such as Mansour Osanloo - Ali Reza Saghafi presented himself to the Saba Street office of the judicial authorities in Tehran  on August 26 at 11.00. He then effectively disappeared and his family were left without any information about where he was and what had happened to him until today. This morning his wife and son were interrogated by security staff about whether they were going to participate in the ceremony planned for this Friday at Khavaran Cemetery, South Tehran, to commemorate the execution of thousands of political prisoners in September 1988. The questions put to them were: ‘Will you attend the ceremony? What role will you play? Who are the organisers?’ They were then told they would be arrested if they attended.

ENDS

For more information contact ITF press officer, Sam Dawson.
Direct line: + 44 (0)20 7940 9260.
Email: dawson_sam@itf.org.uk

International Transport Workers' Federation - ITF:
HEAD OFFICE
ITF House, 49 - 60 Borough Road, London SE1 1DS
Tel: + 44 (0) 20 7403 2733
Fax: + 44 (0) 20 7375 7871
Email: mail@itf.org.uk
Web: www.itfglobal.org

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