Reza Shahbi, Bus Workers' Syndicate's Treasurer Arrested!

Four Leaders of the Syndicate are now in prison!

Campaign to Free Leaders of Tehran Bus Workers' Syndicate!

Mr. Reza Shahabi, a board member and Treasurer of the Syndicate of Workers of Tehran and Suburbs Bus Company (Vahed Syndicate) was arrested today, June 12, 2010. According to the latest news, Mr. Shahbi was on a sick leave for the past few days; when he returned to work this morning he was told to report to the Tehran Bus Company headquarter. After reporting to the headquarter he was arrested by four intelligence agents. Following his arrest, Mr. Shahabi was taken to his home where they searched his belongings and personal information including his computer and afterwards transferred him to an unknown location. His whereabouts has not been reported to his family.

As of this time, four leaders and elected representatives of Vahed Syndicate are in prison. Mansour Osanloo, Syndicate's president of the board of director, Ebrahim Madadi, Vice-President; Saeed Torabian, Public relations director and Reza Shahabi, Treasurer.

In addition some other members of the Vahed syndicate have been harassed at work by the Vahed Company and there are fear of more arrests of Vahed Syndicate members and other labour activists. In recent weeks, Mr. Osanloo has been subject to harassment and threats of new charges by prison officials and other agents of the Islamic Republic in prison. While in prison, Mr. Osanloo has recently been interrogated and accused of relationship with opposition groups as well as insulting Khamanei and Ahmadinejad. These allegations have been denied by Osanloo. Both Torabian and Shahabi had been suspended without pay from work for about four years following the 2005 strike. After years of inquiries they were finally reinstated in their job and were returned to work but now they are arrested as a part of an obvious scheme orchestrated jointly by intelligence officials and the Tehran Bus Company. We need to stand up against this new wave of attacks against on bus workers of Tehran and their union.

Stand up against the new wave of attacks on bus workers of Tehran!

Support campaign for freedom of Tehran Bus Workers' Syndicate!

Free Tehran Bus Workers' Leaders Now!

I (we) am (are) writing this to demand an immediate freedom of all imprisoned representatives and members of the Syndicate of Workers of Tehran and Suburbs Bus Company.

As of this time, four leaders and elected representatives of Vahed Syndicate are in prison:. Mansour Osanloo, Syndicate's president of the board of director (serving five year jail sentence since 2007, Ebrahim Madadi, Vice-President (serving 3.5 year jail sentence since late 2007); Saeed Torabian, Public Relations administrator (arrested and detained since June 9, 2010, and Reza Shahabi, Treasurer (arrested on June 12, 2010).

In addition some other members of the Vahed syndicate have been targeted recently at work by the Vahed Company and there are fear of more arrests of Vahed Syndicate members and other labour activists. Mr. Osanloo has been subject to harassment and threats of new charges by prison officials. While in prison, Mr. Osanloo has recently been interrogated and accused of relationship with opposition groups as well as insulting leaders of the Islamic Republic. These allegations have been denied by Osanloo.

I (we) demands immediate and unconditional freedom of Osanloo, Madadi, Torabian and Shahabi. I (we) condemn this new round of attack against Tehran bus workers' union and the continuous gross attacks on human and workers’ rights in Iran. I (we) demand the immediate and unconditional freedom of all labour activists and political prisoners and call on the government to respect the right to organize and freedom of association.

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LabourStart: Act NOW!
Iran: Farzad Kamangar executed

http://www.labourstart.org/cgi-bin/solidarityforever/show_campaign.cgi?c=692

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International Alliance in Support of Workers in Iran (IASWI)

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