Iran: around May Day

Today, May Day 2009, Amnesty International calls on the Iranian authorities to end the repression of trade unionists by releasing those imprisoned for their trade union work and dropping charges against others.
In particular they call for the release of Mansour Osanloo and Ebrahim Madadi, leading members of the Syndicate of Tehran and Suburbs Bus Company (Sherkat-e Vahed), who are serving five and three year prison sentences respectively.
They also ask the authorities to review urgently the cases of five leaders of the Haft Tapeh Sugar Cane Company (HTSCC) Trade Union, who were sentenced to between four to six months' imprisonment for "propaganda against the system" .
They gave an interview on May Day 2008 to foreign journalists about working conditions at the plant.
They are not currently detained, pending appeals against their convictions and sentences.
Amnesty International urges the Iranian authorities to allow peaceful gatherings by workers on May Day.


The International Campaign for Human Rights in Iran said in a new report(fa) that she observes the government increases its suppression of independent labor movements.
On 16 April 2009, more than 73 workers in the city of Sanandaj were arrested as they met privately to plan May Day celebrations.
On April 23 in Naghadeh Sadiq Khosravi, Khosrow Bukani, Omar Ismail-pour, Ebrahim Esmail-pour, Asaad Mowlud-pour, Jalil Sharifian, Khalil Sharifian and Mustafa Sharifi were summoned to the local intelligence office.
They were interrogated about their plans to celebrate May Day and intimidated in an attempt to prevent any celebrations.
Ten independent labor organizations, having formed the Committee to Celebrate May Day, have called for a public celebration in Laleh Park in Tehran on May Day.
The Free Workers Union has announced that representatives of ten factories, together with Tohid Hospital workers in Sanandaj, wrote a letter asking local city officials to issue a permit for public celebrations.
The authorities have not replied to this letter.
International Campaign for Human Rights in Iran calls the government of Iran to allow independent workers organizations to hold peaceful public assemblies on this day and end the repression and prosecution of the workers in Iran.
She asks Iran to hold its obligations under international treaties and ILO conventions.


In Iran there are childoffenders, still on death row.

Children are being hanged to death.
A child will be hanged to death.
Poster amnesty.nl