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APFUTU
All Pakistan Federation of United Trade Unions
H.O: Imtiaz Labour Hall, Faizabad, GUJRAT (Pakistan)
Phone: (+92-53 ) 353 3736 Mobile: (+92-333) 8408467
Fax No:(+92-53 ) 352 5302 Web Site: www.labourunity.org
Memo No:-------------/ Dated:-------------------2008.
Dear Brother,
Please accept of CONGRATULATION on freed of brotherMahmoud Salehi, we hope that now he will start his struggle with new power and strength. Our all support with our Iranian brother and sisters. With great joy and pleasure we learnt this good news here in our head quarter. Also our colleagues has distributed sweet on freed of brother Mahmoud Salehi.
I assure you on behalf of my organisation APFUTU 2,47,432 members that you always see us with you.
Fraternally yours,
Pirzada Imtiaz Syed
Secretary General
Dear Friends,
On behalf of All Pakistan Trade Union Federation we express our deep congratulation to Iran workers and workers around the world jointly struggle for the relase of our friend Mahmoud Salehi. Please convey our greetings to Mahmoud Saleihi.
Longlive workers solidarity!
Rubina Jamil
Chairperson
All Pakistan Trade Union Federation ::
Mahmoud Salehi Freed!
For Immediate Release:
April 6, 2008- According to the Committee in Defense of Mahmoud Salehi, Mahmoud Salehi, a well known and one of the most courageous labour leaders in Iran, was finally released today, Sunday, April 6, 2008 at 3:00 PM from the City of Sanandaj‘s central prison, where he had finished one-year jail term for his labour activities on March 23, 2008 but the authorities had refused to release him until today.
Congratulation and many thanks to all labour, progressive and human rights’ organizations and activists who have supported Salehi and called for his freedom and that of other jailed labour activists.
More updates to follow soon :: Support Urgent Campaigns to save Salehi's life
Iran: Jailed trade unionist goes on hunger strike
Mahmoud Salehi, the jailed Iranian trade unionist, was due to be freed from prison on 23 March. But the authorities now accuse him of "communicating with those outside prison for the purposes of issuing messages of solidarity". As a result, he has not yet been released and has gone on hunger strike. Amnesty International is waging a global campaign to demand his freedom -- please send off your message today
:: TO ITUC from The Collaborative Council of Labour Organizations and Activists
Subject: TO ITUC from The Collaborative Council of Labour Organizations and Activists
To: General Secretary of the International Trade Union Confederation (ITUC)
Dear Guy Ryder,
Last year was a year full of misery, unemployment, dismissal and temporary and blank-signed contracts for Iranian workers. As a result of the difficult economic situation resulting from the miseries of the global capitalist system, last year came to an end while Iranian workers and wage earners were struggling with the extreme hardship. The livelihood of workers has been constantly diminishing. And finally, the Iranian year 1386 (March 21, 2007 to March 20, 2008) ended while the Iranian workers are still facing prosecution for struggling to create their independent organizations. Some examples are the oppression of members of Sherkate Vahed syndicate and the imprisonment of the president of this syndicate while the syndicate’s secretary is pending for the court order to be carried out in the upcoming days. The workers of Haft Tapeh Sugar Company were under pressure during past year and some of them have been interrogated and detained. So far, not a single indication of decrease of oppression has been seen.
During the past years, Iran ’s workers have consistently been facing numerous difficulties and arrests for organizing free May Day events. As you know, one example was the May Day celebration in the city of Saqez in 2004, which ended with the arrest of numerous worker activists. As we speak, Mahmoud Salehi is paying the high price of organizing that event with his poor health condition in prison since last year. Mahmoud Salehi is under intensive pressure for his solidarity messages from prison in support of workers’ rights and other social movements and there is no hope for his release at the end of his prison sentence.
While organizing May Day events has been recognized as a basic right in many countries, the worker activists in Iran are still under hardest pressure for these same reasons. The recent humiliating and offensive whipping sentences against worker activists is another sign of rising pressures to prevent workers from organizing international workers’ day freely.
The two international days of action in support of Iranian workers launched by your organization on August 9, 2007 and March 6, 2008, despite their positive effects, have not yet been successful in stopping the repression of worker activists. Therefore, putting pressure on Iran ’s government should continue in a way that results in suspension of suppression and persecution of labour activists. We, labour activists in Iran, expect that you, as an organization that has the creation of free and independent labour organizations on its agenda – to take necessary measures to compel the Iranian government to stop pressures and repression of the workers and labour activists. Workers in Iran demand, and they should be able to freely strive towards the achievement of these demands, to end sacking and dismissals, to stop the practice of temporary and blank-signed contracts, timely payment of their wages, wage increase according to real inflation rates, equal rights between women and men, prohibition of child labour, and more importantly to create free and independent worker organizations. *The Collaborative Council of Labour Organizations and Activists 2008-03-19 :: General Secretary, Amnesty International
March 20, 2008
Irene Khan, General Secretary, Amnesty International, 1 Easton Street Fax number: +44-20-79561157
Re: Request for Urgent Action to save Mahmoud Salehi’s life
Dear Ms. Irene Khan,
As you are well aware of, the one-year prison sentence for Mahmoud Salehi, a prominent labour activist in Iran and a representative of bakery workers in city of Saqez, who was arrested following a May Day in event in 2004 and after numerous trials was finally sentenced to one year imprisonment and a three year suspended prison sentence, was going to end on Farvardin 4th, 1387 (March 23, 2008). However, Mahmoud Salehi was taken from Sanandaj Prison to branch 4 of the department of justice in Sanandaj on March 17, 2008. After making Mahmoud waiting for hours, they ordered a temporary arrest against him. They charged Mahmoud with communication and contacts with outside prison and issuing solidarity messages such as one to those on hunger strike on Tir 27th 1386 (July 18, 2007) and also in support of freedom and equality seeking university students. Immediately after this unjust order of arrest, Mahmoud went on dry hunger-strike to protest the violation of his rights. He has refused taking his vital prescribed medications and has announced that he will continue his total strike until he is freed from prison.
According to the latest reports, Mahmoud’s blood pressure has been at maximum 16 and minimum 12. If his minimum and maximum blood pressures get closers or evens, his remaining kidney would fail completely and his life would be seriously endangered.
We, members of the Committee in Defense of Mahmoud Salehi, who are activists in Iran , are asking Amnesty International as well as Doctors without Border and labour unions and human rights organizations to increase pressures on Iranian authorities to immediately release Salehi and facilitate his treatment effectively and urgently. As the Committee in Defense of Mahmud Salehi, we hold the authorities of the Iranian government responsible for Salehi’s life. They must be hold accountable and liable for anything that might happen to Mahmoud.
Sincerely, Committee in Defense of Mahmoud Salehi March 20, 2008 (Farvardin 1st, 1387)
cc: International Trade Union Confederation Doctors without Border [Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF)] International Transport Workers’ Federation Labour and human rights organizations :: Salehi Declares Dry Hunger-strike
Mamoud Salehi faces new charges and temporary arrest while still in prison
Salehi Declares Dry Hunger-strike
Monday March 17, 2008- According to the Committee in Defense of Mahmoud Salehi, Mr. Salehi was taken from Sanandaj Prison to branch 4 of the department of justice in Sanandaj on March 17, 2008. After making Mahmoud waiting for hours, they ordered a temporary arrest against him. They charged Mahmoud with communication and contacts with outside prison and issuing solidarity messages such as the one to those on hunger strike on Tir 27th 1386 (July 18, 2007) and also supporting freedom and equality seeking university students. This order was issued while Mahmoud’s one-year prison term was going to end on Farvardin 4th, 1387 (March 23, 2008), and his family and friends were expecting his release soon.
Immediately after this unjust order of arrest, Mahmoud went on dry hunger-strike to protest these unjust actions of government authorities to keep him in prison.
The Committee in Defense of Mahmoud Salehi has strongly condemned this new order to keep Mahmud in prison and demanded the unconditional and immediate release of Salehi.
Salehi’s health got seriously deteriorated last week while in jail. He completely passed out and was taken to hospital for a short period but was sent back to jail again. Salehi’s health does not allow him to be on hunger strike and his life would be at great risk; however, it is very clear that the government authorities are determined to keep him in prison and deny his freedom ::
Mahmoud Salehi’s Message to All Workers and concerned organizers and participants of the March 6th Global Day of Action
The International Transport Workers Federation (ITF) and the International Trade Union Confederation (ITUC) and their affiliates along with colleagues of the Global Unions Federations are organizing an international action day on March 6th for workers’ rights in Iran and the freedom of Mansour Osanloo and me (Mahmoud Salehi). For my part, I gracefully appreciate such militant actions.
There is no avoidance of the struggle for the creation of independent workers’ organizations!!
Workers’ movement has grown in the context of aggravation of economic crisis, factory close downs, mass dismissal of workers, excessive increase of inflation that lowered the working people’s purchasing power, and generally widening of the class gap… as the result of all this Workplaces have turned into a battle field of class struggle for workers in order to meet their demands. Worker activists were raised and taken their roles within such struggles.
The close relationship between these fed-up masses and progressive workers has helped labour activists to adapt their views and behaviors to the realities of life and struggles of workers. Consequently, they have conveyed the proper ways of thinking and acting towards mass workers. Living and working with their co-workers, activists are telling them that the only way out of this terrifying misery, from poverty and starvation, from unemployment, from collective dismissal, and so on, is to fight with the capitalist system and to organize independent workers’ organizations. They tell their colleagues that an independent worker’s organization will empower them against the harsh onslaught of capitalism; that with their labour organization, they will be in a better position in their battle with capitalists; that they can set their wages up from a powerful position. Through their independent organizations, workers can establish the achievements of their struggle step by step.
Dear honorable and hard-working colleagues and fellow workers!
As the result of the efforts of truthful activists of labour movement, international rights’ organizations are now recognizing us as a working class with legitimate demands. As one of the labour activists, who is imprisoned in this capitalist country, I am proud to see such a day in the name of workers in Iran because I now know that the world’s working class has never easily accepted the imprisonment of these activists and has always fought for their freedom. They will not let the persecution and imprisonment of workers to become an obstacle or barrier in their rightful struggle.
On March 6th, I will be joyful, even behind the bars of my cell, dreaming of unity and solidarity amongst workers. At this day, workers in Iran should be cheerful while their enemies would grieve!
I will see myself among you, arm in arm, by your side and fighting with you; and I, along with you, will emphasis that there is no avoidance of the struggle for the creation of independent workers’ organizations!
Mahmoud Salehi- Central Prison of the City of Sanandaj March 04, 2008 ::
Global Action Day - 6 March 2008Campaign Inbox
5 March ITF Worldwide Update (3) >> Worldwide updateDetails of the worldwide plans for 6 March are now available. (last updated, 5 March 2008) The planned actions by the unions include: * A protest at or a visit to the Iranian Mission is planned in Amman, Bangkok, Basra, Berlin, Brussels, Bucharest, Casablanca, Geneva, Hong Kong, Hyderabad, Istanbul, Jakarta, Kiev, London, Mexico City, Moscow, Mumbai, New Delhi, Oslo, Pretoria, Sanaa, Seoul, Stockholm, The Hague, Tokyo, Tunis and Wellington. * A mass rally or march is planned in Conakry, Jakarta, Lahore, London, Mumbai, Pretoria, Sanaa, Seoul, Sydney, Toronto, Vilnius and the West Bank. * Leafleting or information exhibition is planned in Aberdeen, Birmingham, Bradford, Bristol, Cardiff, Edinburgh, Leeds, Liverpool, London, Newcastle, Bangkok, Mumbai, Hong Kong, Tokyo as well as the railway border points between Spain-France, France-Italy, France-Luxembourg- Germany, France-UK, Italy-Switzerland, Italy-Austria, Italy-Slovenia. * Lobbying the government is planned in Austria, Australia, Bahrain, Canada, Germany, Ethiopia, France, India, Indonesia, Iraq, Korea, Kuwait, Lithuania, New Zealand, Portugal and Romania. * In the meantime, ITF Inspectors are visiting Iranian vessels in many countries including Australia, Belgium, Estonia, France, Great Britain, India, Korea and Taiwan. For ideas on what you can do to support the campaign, click here >>
The ITUC and the ITF are organising a global action day on 6 March 2008 to express our solidarity with the Iranian workers once again. We want Mansour Osanloo and Mahmoud Salehi released immediately and unconditionally from prison. Their health conditions are deteriorating. We also demand that fundamental workers' rights be respected in Iran, in accordance with the ILO core conventions. The imprisonment of Osanloo and Salehi are not isolated cases in Iran. 9 education workers were sentenced to 90 days in prison recently. The Iranian authorities claim they are "threats to the national security" although in reality, it is genuine trade union activities they want to crush. Oppression of the independent workers' movement in Iran is escalating. That is why the global unions, together with the human rights activists, wish to send a strong message to the Iranian government. 6 March falls two weeks prior to the Iranian New Year and the parliamentary elections. What you can do:We want you to send our strong message to the Iranian government as well as to raise awareness of the public and build union activism. Click here to read our Campaign Guidelines. Register your participation and request campaign materialsPlease use the following online form in order to register your participation, request campaign materials and let us know your planned activities for the Action Day. You can also order badges and stickers. Online petitionLabourStart is running a joint online petition with us. Click here to sign your name! What’s New?Update yourself with the latest developments of the Action Day as well as on our Iran Campaign >> Campaign MaterialsThe following campaign materials can be downloaded for use on the Action Day.
Campaign Links
View links to websites with information about the Free Osanloo Campaign. ::
Today is a global day of action in support of Iranian workers. Events are taking place around the globe and you can see what's happening in your country or city by going here. If you've not yet done so, make sure to sign up to the online campaign -- send a protest message to Iran here. Full coverage of Iranian labour news can be found here.
Today is also an international day of action in support of the victims of violence in Colombia -- hundreds of whom have been trade unionists. To find out what's going on in your part of the world today, click here.
Today is also International Book Day -- the perfect day to stock up on the books you need as a trade unionist. Please visit Labour's Online Bookstore today and buy at least one book. One of our favorites -- and it should be on every activists' bookshelf -- is the Troublemaker's Handbook. Remember -- every purchase you make at our online bookshop helps support LabourStart's campaigning activities.
Thanks very much -- I know that I can count on you.
Eric Lee :: Labour activists face lashes and fines
Labour activists face lashes and fines
The Committee in Defense of Mahmoud Salehi and the Union of Dismissed and Unemployed Workers report that the appeal court in the city of Sanandaj has sentenced 11 workers who had participated in a May Day 2007 event to 10 lashes and 200,000 toman each as a financial penalty. These 11 workers, who were arrested on May Day 2007 celebration in Sanandaj city, were originally sentenced to 91 days in prison and 10 lashes each. They were accused of disturbing public order and participating in an illegal gathering by both civil and revolutionary courts of Sanandaj. Their names, who are mostly members of the Unemployed Union, are as follows: Khaled Savari, Eghbal Latifi, Yadullah Moradi, Tayeb Mollaee, Fars Goilian, Sadiq Amjadi, Habibollah Kalkani, Mohiuddin Rajabi, Tayeb Chatani, Sadiq Sobhani and Abbas Anadyari. Also Sheys Amani and Sediq Karimi, both members of the executive board of the Union of Dismissed and Unemployed Workers, have been sentenced to two and half years jail time but these charges have been appealed and no final decision has yet been made. The Union of Dismissed and Unemployed Workers will launch a complaint with the ILO and the International Trade Union Confederation (ITUC) about all these cases, especially the whipping sentences.
On February 16, 2008, Sediq Amjadi was whipped and forced to pay 65,000 toman. He was supposed to pay 200,000 toman, but this amount was reduced because he had previously spent 9 days in jail.
On Monday, February 18, 2008, two other workers, Fars Goilian and Habibollah Kalkani, received 10 lashes and also paid financial penalties.
The court’s verdict is so appalling that many workers and organizations have strongly denounced and condemned it; legal experts and even some of the pro-government officials have expressed concerns with it. This is the first time that labour activists have been whipped following a court order, although some women’s right activists have received such sentences before. Labour, women and student activists have been beaten and brutally attacked, tortured and even executed by security forces in countless occasions in the past 30 years in Iran but this is the first time a court has passed and carried out whipping sentences against labour activists. :: Updates on Salehi, Osanloo and Workers of Vahed Syndicate
Updates on Salehi, Osanloo and Workers of Vahed Syndicate
LabourStart: Photo of the week and the New Iran CampaignThe ITUC and the ITF are organising a global action day on 6 March 2008Amnesty International Salehi and Oasnloo CampaignNajibeh Salehzadeh’s Letter to the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights:: send your message
![]() ![]() In another three weeks, on 6 March, trade unions around the world are holding an international day of action in solidarity with the workers of Iran.
As you probably know, the Iranian government has been arresting workers who have stood up and tried to organize unions -- including Mansour Osanloo and Mahmoud Salehi, who both languish in jails despite continuing health problems. This repression is in violation of International Labour Organization core conventions and the Universal Declaration of Human Rights -- the 60th anniversary of which we observe this year. That Declaration states that "everyone has the right to form and to join trade unions for the protection of his interests." It is our job to turn that promise into reality for workers everywhere -- including inside the Islamic Republic of Iran. We have been asked by the International Transport Workers Federation (ITF), which together with the International Trade Union Confederation (ITUC) has called for the day of action, to mobilize thousands of trade unionists online. Please take a moment and send off a message to the Iranian leaders demanding respect for workers' rights and freedom for jailed trade unionists: Click here to send your message When you have done so, please forward this message to fellow trade unionists and help us organize the biggest campaign we have ever done online. Let us send a loud and clear signal to Tehran that, as promised by the United Nations sixty years ago "everyone has the right to form and join trade unions" -- even in Iran. Thank you. Eric Lee ::
February 7, 2008 Ms. Louise Arbour United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights Palais Wilson RE: Mahmoud Salehi Dear Ms. Louise Arbour; On January 28, 2008, my spouse, Mahmoud Salehi, a well-known labour activist and political prisoner, was taken to the government’s medical examiner for the second time in recent months. It seemed that it had been decided that doctors, including the hearth and kidney specialists, at the Tohid hospital in city of My husband has been imprisoned because of his efforts to organize an independent May Day event. This is totally unjust. A big campaign, which I am a part of as well, have been actively advocating that organizing an independent Labour Day is a basic right and the authorities should not keep Mahmoud in prison. However, all our efforts and that of international labour and human rights organizations have not changed the decision of the judiciary authorities and my partner is still in prison. Therefore, we all were hoping that the official medical examiners would check him up in an objective and professional manner, according to Boghrat Oath (ethical code for physicians), and would confirm other doctors’ recommendations and recommend his release from hospital due to his serious health conditions. But that was a false hope. The official medical examiners are employees of the state and a part of the judiciary and security system of the government. Consequently, they denied all other doctors’ recommendation and decided that Mahmoud should stay in prison because they think he is not in life threatening situation. I contacted these medical examiners and protested their decisions. I reminded them that not only the physicians at the Now, through this letter, I am asking you, based on the universal human rights, to call for the immediate freedom of my husband, Mahmoud Salehi; or, as a minimum, please pressure Iranian authorities to allow a specialist and ethical and independent examination of Mahmoud’s health. At the above mentioned offices, doctors are acting as prison guards and prison guards as doctors. Given such unjust situation, the human rights of my husband, me and my children will not be realised unless there are more protests. I thank you in advance for your cooperation. Najibeh Salehzadeh cc: The United Nations Human Rights Council Amnesty International (AI); International Committee of the Red Cross; Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF) (Doctors Without Borders) International Trade Union Confederation (ITUC) Other relevant labour and human rights organizations ::
Leader of the Islamic Republic 21 December 2007 Mahmoud Salehi – Release on humanitarian grounds Your Excellency, On behalf of The Swedish Trade Union Confederation, Swedish LO, I request you to take urgent action to ensure that Mahmoud Salehi’s many health problems be properly diagnosed and that he be seen by qualified specialist health professionals and provided with appropriate medical treatment outside prison. We have been informed by the International Trade Union Confederation (ITUC) and the International Transport Workers’ Federation (ITF) that Mahmoud Salehi, spokesperson for the Organisational Committee to Establish Trade Unions, was admitted to Tohid Hospital in the city of Sanandaj, unconscious, on 11 December, after having collapsed repeatedly in prison between 4 - 10 December. We know that Salehi has long-term medical concerns. We wish to bring to your attention the fact that he suffers from chronic kidney disease, as a result of which he required dialysis. He is also said to suffer from a heart disorder. Most recently, it was reported that he has grave intestinal edema or swelling that may be connected with his renal disease. Following his admission to hospital he received a brain scan. This revealed that blood vessels in his brain have been damaged. We deplore the fact that the authorities took him back to jail in such a critical condition. We would like to point out that no worker should be imprisoned for his/her trade union activities and whilst we welcome the recent release of Ebrahim Madadi and Reza Dehgan from prison, we cannot let Salehi's health conditions deteriorate without voicing our grave concerns. This latest development has been the subject of worldwide attention and many organisations are deeply disturbed with the lack of humanitarian treatment by the Iranian authorities. We once again stress that Mahmoud Salehi must be released immediately on humanitarian grounds or at least be given adequate medical care outside prison urgently. Given the circumstances, Salehi cannot stay in harsh prison facilities for the remaining time of his sentence until next March without serious implications on his health and at great risk to his life. We therefore appeal to you to show mercy and release him on humanitarian grounds, or pardon him. Yours sincerely Anders Larsson :: Mahmoud Salehi Taken Back to Jail After Overnight Hospital Stay
Mahmoud Salehi Taken Back to Jail After Overnight Hospital Stay
January 10, 2008- According to the news release issued by Committee in Defense of Mahmoud Salehi today, Mahmoud is taken back to jail again on Thursday, January 10, 2008. The angiography result showed a block in one of the major vessels of his heart. Dr. Mohammad Reza Khaledian has prescribed a number of medications, which he has said might help Salehi with this problem. Dr. Khaledian also recommended one week of medical supervision for Salehi. He also wants Salehi back in hospital on Saturday, January 12, 2008. Apparently, the prison authorities decided that Mahmoud should stay in prison’s clinic for his medical supervision; thus, despite his serious health problems, they transferred him to prison under tight security measures today.
Mahmoud and his wife, Najibeh Salehzadeh, were treated very roughly by one of the jail guards who had come to the Tohid hospital. He handcuffed Mahmoud to the leg of his bed and also attempted to assault Najibeh. Both Najibeh and Mahmoud protested his aggressive actions, but the guard threatened to arrest Najibeh.
Please continue with your solidarity actions: Send an appeal to the Iranian authorities to release Mahmoud Salehi or to ensure he urgently receives appropriate medical treatment. Amnesty International: http://www.amnesty.org.uk/actions_details.asp?ActionID=386
Mansour Osanloo and Mahmoud Salehi – Iran: Send a message of hope | Send an appeal to the Iranian authorities http://amnesty.org.uk/actions_details.asp?ActionID=352
LabourStart: http://www.labourstart.org/cgi-bin/solidarityforever/show_campaign.cgi?c=295
ITF: www.freeosanloo.org :: Mahmoud Salehi Hospitalized For More Tests
Mahmoud Salehi Hospitalized For More Tests
January 9, 2008- According to the latest report by the Committee in Defense of Mahmoud Salehi in Iran , on Wednesday, January 9, 2008, Mahmoud Salehi was transferred to Tohid Hospital from Sanandaj’s Central Prison. The treating physician recommended exercise stress test, but Mahmoud could not pass the exercise test. The doctor believes it is caused by a block in one of the major vessels of his heart. Also, on the same day, they took blood test, electrocardiogram and X-rays. Dr. Mohammad Reza Khaledian, who is a cardiologist, performed angiography. At this time, Mahmoud has been hospitalized at Tohid Hospital ’s cardiovascular department. According to the recommendations by physicians, he cannot move for 24 hours because it may cause bleeding. . His angiographic result will be known by this Saturday. Just a few days ago, a government’s medical officer had made a recommendation that Salehi’s illness does not require his release from prison despite the mounting international concerns for his health.
It’s very important to emphasize that there have been numerous campaigns in Iran and internationally in support of Mahmoud Salehi and in order to save his life. International labour movements as well as human rights organizations, like Amnesty International, have been waging worldwide campaigns in support of Salehi as well as Mansour Osanloo, who has been sentenced to five years imprisonment. Also, the Committee in Defence of Mahmoud Salehi, the Syndicate of Tehran bus workers and the Collaborative Council of Labour Organizations and Activists, all active in Iran , as well as the campaign of Iranian workers’ solidarity organizations in Europe, Australia and Canada and other progressive activists all have been incessant in supporting Salehi, Osanoo and other labour activists.
This support needs to continue until all activists are freed unconditionally and workers are able to form their free and independent organizations. Please refer o the following links for more information on some of the current campaigns in English on workers’ rights in Iran .
Amnesty International: Send an appeal to the Iranian authorities to release Mahmoud Salehi or to ensure he urgently receives appropriate medical treatment http://www.amnesty.org.uk/actions_details.asp?ActionID=386
Mansour Osanloo and Mahmoud Salehi – Iran: Send a message of hope | Send an appeal to the Iranian authorities http://amnesty.org.uk/actions_details.asp?ActionID=352
LabourStart: http://www.labourstart.org/cgi-bin/solidarityforever/show_campaign.cgi?c=295
ITF: www.freeosanloo.org ::
http://cupe.ca/news/Help_release_ill_IraHelp release ill Iranian union leaderDecember 21, 2007 03:41 PMJailed Iranian trade union leader Mahmoud Salehi is facing an acute medical emergency. Amnesty International and the global trade union movement are pressing Iranian authorities to release him or protect his health. CUPE was part of a joint action in October to support Salehi’s fellow union leader Mansour Ossanlu. To assist in the action to release Salehi, go to . For more on the situation in Iran, visit www.workers-iran.org . ::
http://www.amnesty.org.uk/actions_details.asp?ActionID=386
Jailed Iranian trade unionist requires urgent medical treatment
Mahmoud Salehi has long suffered persecution by the Iranian authorities, spending several periods in prison because of their legitimate and peaceful activities as trade union activists and human rights defenders. He began his sentence on 9 April 2007. Amnesty International considers him a prisoner of conscience and is concerned for his health. Mahmoud Salehi has long-term medical concerns. A request by his doctor in May 2007 that he be accorded specialist treatment outside the prison has been ignored. He suffers from chronic kidney disease, for which he requires dialysis. He is also said to suffer from a heart disorder. This month (December 2007) it was reported that Salehi has grave intestinal edema or swelling that may be connected with his renal disease. Health fears A May 2007 request by his doctor that he be accorded specialist treatment outside the prison has been ignored. He suffers from chronic kidney disease, as a result of which he requires dialysis. He is also said to suffer from a heart disorder and has been returned to prison where he remains. In December 2007 it was reported that Salehi has grave intestinal edema or swelling that may be connected with his renal disease. His wife, Najibeh Salehzadeh is reported to have said on 18 December that: “…the physical health of my partner is extremely severe. One of his kidneys has stopped working and because of being deprived of proper medical treatment the other kidney is losing its functions. His blood pressure fluctuates and his blood sugar is surging. He falls unconscious about twice daily. The lack of treatment of his kidney has affected his heart as well. His feet and legs are swollen and the excessive injections of tranquilizers have seriously endangered his well-being….” Mahmoud Salehi was among 20-30 prisoners forcibly moved on 4 December from one section to another in Sanandaj Central Prison. Given very little time to collect personal items, Mahmoud required more time than other prisoners to comply with the order because of his poor health. As a result of his perceived slowness he was insulted and, according to reports, a prison guard threatened to kill him. Mahmoud experienced raised blood pressure, as a likely consequence of the stress he had experienced during his transfer between prison sections, and he was taken to Tohid Hospital on or around 4 December, where he was restrained to his bed and administered tranquilisers prior to his return to prison, the date of which is not known to Amnesty International. Mahmoud Salehi has been denied visits from his lawyer and family. His family, who live 400km from Sanandaj, have been able to contact him by telephone. He was arrested after a peaceful demonstration to celebrate May Day 2004. In November 2005 he was sentenced to five years’ imprisonment and three years' internal exile in the city of Ghorveh, Kordestan. At his trial, the prosecutor reportedly cited his trade union activities as evidence against him, and referred to a meeting he had held with officials from the International Confederation of Free Trade Unions (ICFTU) - now reconstituted as the International Trade Union Confederation (ITUC) - in April 2004, shortly before the May Day demonstrations. His conviction was overturned on appeal, but after a retrial he was sentenced on 11 November 2006 to four years’ imprisonment for "conspiring to commit crimes against national security". He was free until the appeal hearing on 11 March, when his sentence was reduced to a three-year suspended prison sentence and one year’s imprisonment, which commenced with his imprisonment on 9 April 2007. More about Iranian trade union rights Mahmoud Salehi has long suffered persecution by the Iranian authorities, spending several periods in prison because of their legitimate and peaceful activities as trade union activists and human rights defenders. He began his sentence on 9 April 2007. Amnesty International considers him a prisoner of conscience and is concerned for his health. Mahmoud Salehi has long-term medical concerns. A request by his doctor in May 2007 that he be accorded specialist treatment outside the prison has been ignored. He suffers from chronic kidney disease, for which he requires dialysis. He is also said to suffer from a heart disorder. This month (December 2007) it was reported that Salehi has grave intestinal edema or swelling that may be connected with his renal disease. ::
Mahmoud Salehi was hospitalized and his health condition is serious.
PUBLIC AI Index: MDE 13/150/2007 18 December 2007
UPDATE Further Information on UA 176/07 (MDE 13/082/2007, 6 July 2007)/ Prisoner of conscience/ health concern/
New concern: Ill-treatment
IRAN Mahmoud Salehi (m), trade union leader
Mahmoud Salehi, spokesperson for the Organisational Committee to Establish Trade Unions, was reportedly admitted to hospital, unconscious, on 11 December, after repeatedly collapsing in prison between 4-10 December. During an earlier hospitalisation, on or around 4 December, the authorities placed restraints on his bed. He may not be receiving adequate medical care.
Mahmoud Salehi, whom Amnesty International believes is a prisoner of conscience, has long term medical concerns. A May 2007 request by his doctor that he be accorded specialist treatment outside the prison has been ignored. He suffers from chronic kidney disease, as a result of which he required dialysis. He is also said to suffer from a heart disorder. In December 2007 it was reported that he has grave intestinal edema or swelling that may be connected with his renal disease.
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