Iran: ITUC Welcomes Release of Unionists Madadi and Reza Dehgan and Calls for Release of others
The ITUC has welcomed the release on 16 December of Ebrahim Madadi, Vice President of the Syndicate of Workers of Tehran
and Suburbs Bus Company (Syndica Sherkate-Vahed) and Reza Dehghan, Union of the Painters (Sandicika Nagash) detained.
Madadi had been detained since 9 August, without any legitimate reason, Reza Dehgan since 18th November.
The ITUC nevertheless remains very concerned at the at the treatment of Mahmoud Salehi, the former President of the
Saqez Bakers' Union, who is being kept in harsh prison conditions in Sanandaj despite his very poor health and fears
that his life might be at severe risk.
The ITUC also condemns the continuing repression of trade unionists, including the recent arrests of Ebrahim Gohari, a
member of the Executive Board of the Vahed union, Mohsen Hakimi, a member of the Coordinating Committee to Form Workers'
Organisations, and two independent labour activists, Alireza Asghari and Hossein Gholami, in Tehran on 14 December.
"We call on the Government of Iran to free all detained trade unionists and drop all charges against them. In
particular, the President of the Vahed union, Mansour Ossanloo, must be released immediately and unconditionally", said
ITUC General Secretary Guy Ryder.
Founded on 1 November 2006, the ITUC represents 168 million workers in 153 countries and territories and has 305
national affiliates.
ENDS