Reza Shahabi’s denial letter regarding the statement published in Vahed syndicate’s website and reconfirmation of his previous statement
Communiqué number 17 from the Reza Shahabi Defence Committee
After the publication of Reza Shahabi’s statement on 19/01/2012, an article was published in Vahed syndicate’s website in which the content was false; it was aimed to sabotage the credibility of Reza Shahabi’s message and to misrepresent its content, which needs to be addressed. The article that was published in the Syndicate’s website contained a lie in the name of Reza Shahabi. After Reza Shahabi was informed of the statement in Vahed syndicate’s website, he wrote a letter and stated that the statement, which may have been prepared by only one person with specific aims and motives, was untrue, and hence he expressed his displeasure of the Syndicate’s website.
It seems that the statement published in the Syndicate’s website is a combination of imagination, lies and destruction of personal characteristics and orchestrated by a “writer” with a special interest against the interest of the labour movement and also contrary to the beliefs of Reza Shahabi and possibly in order to create problems for him. The letter which seems to have been written by one “writer” is reminiscent of the fact that the writer may imagine that the bigger the lie the more believable it becomes!
However, Reza Shahabi, in his second letter in connection with the ‘Human Rights Award”, again stated that Mehdi Kouhestani is neither his representative nor a like-minded person and he is not representing any workers’ organisations in Iran.
Reza Shahabi’s letter is as follows. Here we attached, as an evidence, a scanned copy of the Reza Shahabi’s first handwritten letter (statement 19/01/2012) with his signature and his second letter in which he denied the statement in syndicate’s website.
Reza Shahabi Defence Committee
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With greetings and respect to the board members and activists of Vahed workers’ Syndicate and to the esteemed members of my defence committee and all labour activists and organizations;
May I respectfully present, Monday night I was informed of the content of a statement published in the syndicate’s website, in which it alleged that Reza Shahabi, has denied his statement published on 19/01/2012 by his defence committee. A statement concerning a human rights prize that has been given to a person named Mehdi Kouhestani while neither both my family and I nor my defence committee were aware of. In fact the reality is that I approve my first letter.
The reality is that Mehdi Kouhestani is neither my representative nor a like-minded person; he has never had any authority to represent the Vahed Workers’ Syndicate or any other workers’ organisations in Iran.
After publishing my statement on 19/01/2012 (first letter) by my defence committee, one of the members of the Vahed syndicate who was not happy with my statement, on Saturday 21/01.2012 announced that this statement will raise questions about Mehdi Kouhestani and the Vahed Syndicate. On the contrary, I believe that my statement, apart from showing my position, proclaims Vahed syndicate’s independence from the individuals who pursue anti-worker agenda.
This member of the Syndicate repeatedly asked me to deny my statement. I declared that; what I have written is nothing but the truth. To ensure that there are no discrepancies between my original statement, even unintentionally, and the one that got published, I told him that I would compare differences in my written text with the one released by the defence Committee. When I compared them, I realised that there is no changes in the statement, therefore the Defence Committee had done their responsibility flawlessly. I hereby declare once more that the released statement by Reza Shahabi defence committee on 19/01/2012 is fully approved by me.
I am very sorry to see that the statement published in the Syndicate’s website has absolutely misused my declaration that ” I will compare the statement with my written text” and hence unfortunately, the whole statement published in the Syndicate website, with has particular motives and reasons, is false and fictional.
Dear friends
I announce my objection to the Vahed Syndicate’s website and then to the organisation that dedicated the prize. I, due to the lack of access to sufficient information, do not know the funding sources of this specific organisation and who its members are. It is praiseworthy if other friends could investigate these cases. I only believe in contacting with organisations that are striving for the interests of the labour movement. Nevertheless, my conclusive objection at least is that why and for what reason and with whose recommendation Mehdi Kouhestani was selected to receive something on my behalf.
Mehdi Kouhestani is neither my representative and nor a like-minded person and he is not representing any workers’ organisations in Iran.
In the end, and once again, my request from all is that to consider all materials published by the Defence Committee of my opinions, and please contact this committee for all reasons.
Reza Shahabi,
Worker in jail- The Treasurer and a member of the Board of Directors of the Syndicate of Workers of Tehran and Suburbs Bus company
23 January 2012; 23 Hour
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Distributed by Reza Shahabi Defence Committee
Contact information:
Mahmoud Salehi; Phone: 09188747104
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Reza Shahabi’s communiqué about a human rights award*
Communiqué number 16 from the Reza Shahabi Defence Committee
I have heard that an award for human rights in the field of labour has been dedicated to me and delivered to a person named “ Mehdi Kouhestani”. I would like to announce publicly that neither me nor my family and friends, who believe in workers' independence, were aware of this event.
It is also necessary to explain that “Mehdi Kouhestani” is neither my representative nor a like-minded person.
Lastly, I would like to ask my friends and all workers and workers' organizations to discuss all cases only with my defense committee.
Reza Shahabi – An imprisoned worker
The Treasurer and a member of the Board of Directors of the Syndicate of Workers of Tehran and Suburbs Bus company
January 19, 2012
Phone number for Reza Shahabi Defense Committee' Spokesperson:
Mahmoud Salehi: 09188747104
*(IASWI): For information about the questionable award that Reza Shahabi protests about refer to: http://humanrightsintl.org/statement/december/2011-12-15-s001.htm