Latest news from Haft Tapeh Workers:

Ali Nejati Fired by Haft Tapeh Sugar Cane Company

Workers are sentenced to jail for “the formation of an illegal union”

According to a statement, dated May 21, 2009, by the Committee in Defence of Haft Tapeh Workers ([email protected]), Mr. Ali Nejati, the president of the board of directors of The Syndicate of Workers of Haft Tapeh Sugar Cane Company, has been fired by the Haft Tapeh Sugar Company with an excuse that he did not report to work for a few weeks although they knew well that he was in jail because of his labour activities throughout that time. The Haft Tapeh Defence Committee emphasize that according to existing laws the company couldn't fire him for such reasons. However, the reality is that the IRI and employers have been doing this to almost all labour activists for the past several years; first harassing and persecuting them, then criminalizing and imprisoning them, then firing them from their work, then....

The Haft Tapeh Workers’ Defence Committee also reports that according to a written court order which has been given to the lawyer for the persecuted members of the Haft Tapeh Workers’ Syndicate, Ali Nejati, Jalil Ahmadi, Feridoun Nikoufard and Ghorban Alipour each has been sentenced to one year imprisonment (which has been divided into 6 months of incarceration and 6 months of suspended imprisonment) and 5 year prohibition against participation in any workers’ election-related activities. Mr. Mohammad Heydari Mehr has been sentenced to one year imprisonment (4 months jail term and 8 months suspended sentence) and 3 years ban on participation in any elections for workers’ representatives. Also, on the court order “the formation of an illegal union” and other baseless allegations haven stated.

IASWI, [email protected]