Latest updates on May Day Detainees (as of June 10, 2009)
8 members of the Consumer Cooperative of the Metal-Mechanic Workers still in jail
- According to the Free Union of Workers in Iran the court in Tehran demanded 50 million toman for Alireza Saghafi, 20 million toman for Mohsen Saghafi, 50 million toman for Gholamreza Khani, 100 million toman for Mehdi Farahi Shandiz and 50 million toman for Kaveh Mozafari. Alireza saghafi and his son Mohsen Saghafi were released on bail on June 10, 2009. The family members of the other three detainees have told the court that these bails are too heavy for them and demanded the unconditional freedom of their loved ones but the court has refused to remove conditions or reduce the bail amount.
- Mr. Jafar Azimzadeh, the chairperson for the executive committee of the Free Union of Workers in Iran, and Mr. Saeid Yuzi, a member of The Committee to Pursue the Establishment of Free Workers’ Organizations, have been denied visits since June 6th. It is believed that Mr. Azimzadeh has been transferred to section 240 of Evin prison and Mr. Yuzi to section 209 of the Evin prison. These two labour activists have been repeatedly beaten in prison and were put under extreme pressures and interrogations.
- According to the Free Union of Workers in Iran, the May Day detainees who are still in jail include: Jafar Azimzadeh, Saeid yuzi, Rahmat Kiazadeh, Kaveh Mozafari, Saeid Rostami, Mehdi Farahi Shandiz and Gholamreza Khani.
- Family members of the May Day detainees were attacked by police on June 2nd outside the court and a number of women were arrested. They were released on bail on June 6th. They included wife and sister of Mohammad Ashrafi, a member of The Committee to Pursue the Establishment of Free Workers’ Organizations, and Homa Ajdar-nia, wife of Shahpour Ehsani-rad.
- Four May Day detainees, Ms. Jelveh Javaheri, Mr. Shahpoor Ehsanirad, Mr. Assadollah Poor-Farhad and Mr. Mohammad Ashrafi were released on bail on Sunday evening, June 7, 2009 and were enthusiastically welcomed by friends and family members.
- By now, most May Day detainees have been released on bail. Since the police’s attack and arrests on May First, family and friends of arrested workers have been gathering outside the court demanding the freedom of their loved ones.
8 members of the Consumer Cooperative of the Metal-Mechanic Workers still in jail
On May 1, 2009, members of the Consumer Cooperative of the Metal-Mechanics Workers in Tehran had a membership meeting during which the meeting was raided by plain clothes security forces and many were arrested.
Although some members were released, the following 8 persons are still in prison: Naser Ebrahimi, Mohammad Ali Aziz Mohammadi, Gholam Hossein Akbari, Abul-hassan Daral-shafayee, Mahmoud Mansour Gillani, Abdullah Yussef Vatan-Khah, Azizullah Yaari and Mostafa Hatami. Their family members and colleagues have been issuing a number of statements demanding their freedom but the authorities refuse to free them and hardly ever allow their family members for visit.
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International Alliance in Support of Workers in Iran (IASWI)