Iran

On 24 November, prison guards entered Farzad Kamangar's cell in Section 209 of Tehran's Evin prison. It is reported that the prison guards beat Farzad Kamangar, threatened him with execution, and took him out of the cell, along with some of his personal belongings.

From the Worker Communist Party of Iran:

Shush, Iran – Monday, May 19, 2008

Thousands of Haft Tapeh sugar cane workers marched again on Sunday and Monday through the town of Shush ahead of the sham trial of five of their colleagues tomorrow, which the workers are fighting to revoke. As in the last few days, the people of the town also joined the march today. At one point the workers blocked the main highway in the area.

Workers in a number of cities in Iran held, or attempted to hold, May Day rallies despite a heavy clampdown by the government. Rallies were held in the western cities of Sanandaj, Kermanshah and Saqez. However, the planned rally in the industrial zone of Asalooye was broken up when the security forces moved in to arrest the organisers and remove placards. Those arrested include Javanmir Moradi and Taha Azadi, from the leadership of the newly formed Free Union of Iranian Workers.

This is how the TUC today reported the release of Mahmoud Salehi from an Iranian jail.

Court appearance of Mahmoud Salehi and referral of his case to prosecutor’s office:

According to news we have received, on Saturday 29 March 2008 Mahmoud Salehi appeared in court, where he made his final defence in front of the judge.

Read on for mor eon this case and to take email action to demand his release.

Union complains to the ILO
21 Feb 2008

A further two workers, who were arrested at last year’s May Day ceremonies in the city of Sanandaj, have been fined and whipped, according to a report by the National Union of Dismissed and Unemployed Workers in Iran - www.ettehade.net

Info and the first Bulletin from HOPOI.

E-Bulletin No:1, November 10 2007

An open letter from the Worker Communist Party of Iran, protesting the arrest, harrassment and even stoning to death of worker activists including Mansoor Ossanlou and Mahmoud Salehi.

Iranian workers' leader Mansour Osanloo has been detained again...

The "Millionairre Mullahs" have hiked the prices of fuel in an effort to hike the profits that they filter into their bank accounts. But this has hit hard on the poor in a country that is far from the homogeneous, religious culture of obedience often portrayed by the media. And the opponents of the regime are hitting back...

Eight of the 12 workers arrested on this year’s May Day in the city of Sanandaj were released on bail today.

Teachers in Iran have staged another nationwide strike today in the follow-up to their over two-month long struggle over pay and conditions and to press for the release of their jailed colleagues.

· Thousands demonstrate for jobs, higher pay and right to organise and strike

· Worker activists arrested

From the International Labour Solidarity Committee of the Worker-communist Party of Iran

An interview by No Sweat with Shora Esmailian and Andreas Malm, activists and authors of the recently released book, Iran on the Brink.

Declaration by labour organisations in Iran:

Mahmood Salehi, a leading labour activist from the city of Saghez was re-arrested on Monday April 9 by the Islamic regime’s security forces...