December 26, 2004: According to the latest news from the City of Saqez in Iran’s Kurdistan province, Mr. Borhan Divangar, one of the 7 arrested workers during the May Day event in Saqez, was put on trial on December 25th at the Branch one of the Saqez’ Revolution Court.

 

Mr. Divangar was charged with sympathizing with the banned political organization Komala and attempting to hold an illegal gathering. Mr. Divangar, who was represented by his lawyer Ms. Mahshid Hadad, opposed the charges and also protested against the torture and mistreatment he endured by his interrogators during his 12-day detention in May 2004. His lawyer also requested that a representative of the Intelligence Ministry to attend the court for further information and questions. Judge Akbari, who is presiding over the hearing, announced that the Intelligence authorities would send written information to the court. It is not yet clear if there will be a follow up hearing for Mr. Divangar.

 

The trial of 7 Iranian labour activists, Mahmoud Salehi, Mohammad Abdipour, Esmaeel Khodkam, Mohsen Hakimi, Hadi Tanoumand, Jalal Hosseini and Borhan Divangar was originally due on 23rd September 2004 however the hearings have been postponed for several times until now. Mr. Divangar is in fact the first activist that has been tried so far. The growing pressure by the international labour movement following the arrest of these labour activists created an unfavourable situation for the government authorities at that time to proceed with the trials. More pressure on the Iranian authorities is urgently needed now to ensure the dismissal of the charges against these fellow workers.

 

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International Alliance in Support of Workers in Iran