French Powerhouse Union CGT of Addsea Urges ILO to Support Jailed Workers in Iran After Wave of Arrests

In a strong show of support for workers in Iran, the local Addsea branch of French powerhouse union CGT has issued a letter to the International Labor Organization (ILO) in solidarity with workers in Iran, urging the ILO to press the Islamic Republic to free the numerous jailed worker activists currently held as political prisoners in Iran. A pdf of the letter fom l’Union Locale CGT d’Addsea in French can be downloaded; English translation and original French appear below.

This letter from CGT comes in the wake of a wave of arrests of labor leaders in Sanandaj, Iran who were detained arbitrarily and illegally for demanding social services for those who have resorted to living on the street due to crushing poverty. Learn more and take action: ENGLISH or FRENCH).

Mission Free Iran thanks CGT Addsea for this important act of solidarity with workers in Iran, who continue to face ongoing repression, violation of workers’ rights, imprisonment and torture.

ENGLISH

Besançon, 23 January 2012
To : The International Labour Organisation

Madame, Sir,

On behalf of the union CGT Addsea, I am writing with regard to the cases of Sharif Saed Panah, Mozzafar Saleh Nia and Shith Amani, three leading Iranian worker activists who have been arbitrarily detained in recent days by the authorities in Sanandaj, Iran, for demanding that social services be provided to people who have resorted to living on the street due to increasing poverty in the country.

These three labor activists have been illegally, arbitrarily detained. Under pressure from worker activists in Sanandaj and throughout the region, Saed Panah and Saleh Nia have been conditionally released on bail, and pending trial, despite lack of any charges being brought against them. Shith Amani remains detained without charge and subject to additional mistreatment, abuse, and possibly torture.

The union CGT Addsea requests that the International Labor Organization urgently advocates for the immediate and unconditional release of Shith Amani and the dropping of all proceedings and false charges against Saed Panah and Saleh Nia. The ILO must exert continuous pressure on the Islamic Republic until all other labor activists who are currently arbitrarily detained by the anti-worker regime in Iran are released, including Behnam Ebrahimzadeh, Rasoul Bodaghi, Reza Shahabi, and Mohammad Hoseini, among many others.

Please accept my sincere greetings.

For CGT-ADDSEA
Union Delegate
Pascal Descamps

CGT ADDSEA
Délégué Syndical : Pascal Descamps
22 rue de Savoie
25000 Besançon
cgt.addsea@gmail.com
06 76 16 78 89

FRENCH:

Besançon, 23 janvier 2012
À : Organisation Internationale du Travail (OIT)

Madame, Monsieur,

Au nom du syndicat CGT ADDSEA, je vous écris à propos de la situation de Sharif Saed Panah, Mozzafar Saleh Nia et Shith Amani, trois militants ouvriers iraniens
qui ont été arbitrairement détenus ces derniers jours par les autorités à Sanandaj, Iran, pour avoir demandé que des services sociaux soient offerts aux gens forcés de vivre dans la rue à cause du développement de la pauvreté dans le pays.

Ces trois militants ouvriers ont été arrêtés illégalement et arbitrairement. Sous la pression de militants ouvriers de Sanandaj et à travers la région, Saed Panah et Saleh Nia ont été libérés sous condition et sous caution en attente du jugement, et ce malgré l’absence de charges retenues contre eux. Shith Amani reste emprisonné sans charges et est soumis à de nouveaux mauvais traitements, à des abus et probablement à la torture.

Aussi le syndicat CGT ADDSEA demande à l’Organisation Internationale du Travail d’intervenir de toute urgence pour la libération immédiate et inconditionnelle de Shith Amani et l’abandon de toute poursuite et de fausses accusations à l’encontre de Saed Panah et Saleh Nia. L’OIT doit exercer une pression continuelle sur la République Islamique jusqu’à ce que les autres militants ouvriers qui sont actuellement détenus arbitrairement par le régime anti-ouvrier en Iran
soit libérés, comme entre autres Behnam Ebrahimzadeh, Rasoul Bodaghi, Reza Shahabi, et Mohammad Hoseini.

Veuillez agréer, Madame, Monsieur, l’expression de mes sincères salutations.

Pour la CGT-ADDSEA
Le Délégué Syndical
Pascal Descamps

CGT ADDSEA
Délégué Syndical : Pascal Descamps
22 rue de Savoie
25000 Besançon
cgt.addsea@gmail.com
06 76 16 78 89