A Labor Union's Request to Khamenei for the Release of Imprisoned Workers

Sharon Burrow, the General Secretary of the International Confederation of Trade Unions, expressed concern in a letter to Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, the leader of the Islamic Republic, about what she described as the worsening situation of labor organizations and fundamental human rights in Iran. In her letter, she referred to the 'intensification of the repression of labor organizations in Iran,' stating that these repressions aim to intimidate independent labor organizations to submit and become passive after the nuclear agreement with the 5+1 group. In recent weeks, several labor and civil activists have been arrested in Iran. The General Secretary of the International Confederation of Trade Unions expressed support for Iranian workers and their legitimate demands for achieving their rights and also called for the freedom of association in Iran, urging Ayatollah Khamenei to order the release of all labor activists and leaders from prison. Sharon Burrow warned the leader of the Islamic Republic that under the current circumstances, there is no option other than submitting a formal complaint against the Iranian government to the International Labour Organization, noting that there is no doubt that as a result of this complaint, Iran's reputation in the international community will suffer further damage. She also called for a thorough investigation into the sudden death of labor activist Shahrokh Zamani in Rajai Shahr prison, who was sentenced to 11 years in prison on security charges and passed away on September 13. While the prison doctor declared the cause of death as a heart attack, Amnesty International and several labor organizations have called for investigations into the reasons for his death. In response to these requests, Gholamhossein Mohseni Ejei, the spokesman for the judiciary, stated that those who die in prison may also lose their lives outside of prison, adding that the death of Shahrokh Zamani is under investigation. This labor activist had previously stated in a voice message during Nowruz 2013 that the authorities were responsible for any psychological, physical, or fatal consequences for him. Mehdi Kouhestani Nejad, an advisor to the International Confederation of Trade Unions and a member of the Canadian Labour Congress, mentioned the reaction to the news of Shahrokh Zamani's death in labor unions of various countries, stating that the cause of his death must be clarified. The General Secretary of the International Confederation of Trade Unions also criticized the nine-year prison sentence issued for Mahmoud Salehi, a member of the Coordination Committee to Help Establish Labor Organizations and the Committee to Defend Labor Activists in Mahabad. This nine-year sentence was issued while Mahmoud Salehi's kidneys had failed due to the lack of necessary medications during his detention at the Intelligence Office in Sanandaj in the spring of this year, and he must undergo dialysis twice a week. Sharon Burrow deemed the issuance of this sentence as a sign of severe and systematic repression of labor activists by the judiciary. In her letter to the leader of the Islamic Republic, the General Secretary also mentioned the arrest of Ali Nejati, a member of the Haft Tappeh Sugarcane Workers' Syndicate, as well as several active members of teachers' rights organizations. Sharon Burrow called for the release of all labor and teachers' rights activists and emphasized the need to end the repression of workers and labor organizations and to respect the fundamental rights of workers.